The Compass

The compass did not have the same uses in China as it did in Europe. The Chinese thought that they that they use it to manipulate their chi to make their life easier. Like they could get wealthy and they could make crops grow faster. They were basically cheating instead of doing the work. 

  The Europeans saw the compass as a use for sailing and to increase their capital.  Before the compass people had to use landmarks and the stars to guide them. After the compass was invented people could sail farther and with that it increased trade which increased capital. 

 The Chinese were more interested in manipulating their chi rather than increasing their capital like the Europeans did. The compass allowed the Europeans to sail farther than they had before instead of thinking that this was going to be a magical cure that solves all your problems.