Overview
This lecture explores the development of gunpowder weaponry in China, from early fireworks and firecrackers to the creation and evolution of guns and their divergence in use between Asia and Europe.
Origins of Firecrackers and Fireworks
- Ancient Chinese firecrackers were bamboo tubes that burst when heated, possibly discovered during bamboo scroll production.
- The first reference to gunpowder was in Wei Boyang's book, Tan Tong-chi, around the 2nd century CE.
- Li Tian of the Tang dynasty is traditionally credited with inventing gunpowder firecrackers.
- By the Song dynasty, gunpowder firecrackers had evolved into fireworks.
Transition from Fireworks to Weaponry
- The Song dynasty encouraged weapon innovation, leading to various gunpowder-based weapon ideas.
- Early gunpowder weapons included incendiary fire arrows and thunderclap bombs used for shock and fire.
- In 1132, the fire lance (a bamboo tube filled with gunpowder attached to a spear) appeared in battle.
Evolution of Gunpowder Weapons
- The fire lance evolved with metal tubes, shrapnel, and poison gas for increased lethality.
- The iron bomb, developed in the late 1100s–early 1200s, was designed to kill with explosive shrapnel.
- Mongols adopted and spread these technologies, using them in invasions and facilitating intercontinental transfer.
The Hand Cannon and Its Spread
- The Sanadu gun from 1298 is the earliest reliably dated Chinese hand cannon.
- Other large and early guns have been found but are harder to date precisely.
- Gunpowder weapons spread to Europe (first recorded in 1326), likely through Mongol influence or trade.
Divergence of Gunpowder Weaponry in Asia vs. Europe
- Asia continued diverse experimentation, including multi-stage rockets and rocket arrow launchers recorded in the Ming dynasty's Huolongjing.
- Rocket arrow launchers like the beehive version were improved in Korea (became the hwacha).
- Asian cannons were typically smaller and used against troops, not fortifications.
- European and Near Eastern cannons grew larger for siege purposes, exemplified by the Ottoman use in the 1453 siege of Constantinople.
Defensive Architecture and Weapon Development
- Chinese walls were much thicker (up to 40 m) and built with impact-absorbing stamped earth, making them highly resistant to cannon fire.
- European walls were thinner and less resistant, prompting heavier siege cannons.
- These architectural differences influenced the evolution and use of gunpowder weapons in East vs. West.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Firecracker — Early bamboo tube that bursts when heated to create noise.
- Gunpowder — A chemical mixture that burns rapidly, producing hot gases used in fireworks and weapons.
- Fire Lance — A proto-gunpowder weapon: a bamboo tube on a spear, shooting fire at enemies.
- Thunderclap Bomb — Early explosive device used for shock effect.
- Hand Cannon — The first true portable firearm, direct ancestor of modern guns.
- Huolongjing — Ming dynasty military treatise documenting gunpowder weapons.
- Hwacha — Korean multiple rocket launcher inspired by Chinese designs.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key innovations from ancient Chinese weaponry and their influence on global military history.
- Read further on the differences between Asian and European defensive architecture and their impact on military technology.