Fire Arrow

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The Fire Arrow is a projectile weapon that uses black powder. Although many variations of this weapon were used in Asia, its origin is in China. The earliest of this references came from the Collection of the Most Important Military Techniques written in 1044. It was first reported to be used by the Southern Wu in 904 during the siege of Yuzhang 天佑初，王茂章征安人义于润州，洎城陷，中十余创，以功迁左先锋都尉。从攻豫章，（郑）璠以所部发机「飞火」，烧龙沙门，率壮士突火先登入城，焦灼被体。Jiuguo Zhi 2. And by the Song and Jin dynasties in:

• March 1, 1126, the Thunderbolt Thrower, used by the Song general Li Gang during the siege of Kaifeng （靖康元年二月六日）是夕，宿于咸丰门，以金人进兵门外，治攻具故。先是，蔡楙号令将士，金人近城不得辄施放，有引炮及发床子弩者，皆杖之，将士愤怒。余（李纲）既登城，令施放，有引炮自便，能中（金）贼者，厚赏。夜，发「霹雳炮」以击，（金）贼军皆惊呼。Jingkang Chuanxin Lu 2, by Li Gang, and again in 1161 by General Yu Yunwen at Caishi, near presant day Ma'anshan, Anhui, during a Jin maritime incursion. （绍兴辛已年）我舟伏于七宝山后，令曰：「旗举则出江！」先使一骑偃旗于山之顶，伺其半济，忽山上卓立一旗，舟师自山下河中两旁突出大江，人在舟中，踏车以行船。但见船行如飞，而不见有人，（金）虏以为纸船也。舟中忽发一「霹雳炮」，盖以纸为之，而实之以石灰、硫黄。 炮自空而下，落水中。硫黄得水而火作，自水跳出，其声如雷，纸裂而石灰散为烟雾，眯其人马之目，人物不相见。Collection from the Sincerity Studio 44, by Yang Wanli

• 1221, the Thundercrash Bombs, used by the Jin invaders during the attack of Qizhou, which were exploding grenades filled with black powder rather than incendiary bombs filled with molten material, and lastly in 1232 when the Jin repelled the Mongolians in the battle of Kaifeng. Its worth mention that they also used the Flying Firelances in this battle, which were hollow bamboo tubes with black powder stuffed in it, the tube was then ignited and used as a flamethrower. （正大九年）其守城之具有火砲名「震天雷」者，铁罐盛药，以火点之，砲起火发，其声如雷，闻百里外，所爇围半亩之上，火点著甲铁皆透。（蒙古）大兵又为牛皮洞，直至城下，掘城为龛，间可容人，则城上不可奈何矣。人有献策者，以铁绳悬「震天雷」者，顺城而下，至掘处火发，人与牛皮皆碎迸无迹。又「飞火枪」，注药以火发之，辄前烧十余步，人亦不敢近。（蒙古）大兵惟畏此二物云。Jinshi 113

Fire Arrow is the first form of rocket, although a Greek named Archytas flew a similar device in shape of a bird and powered by hot steam around 400 B.C. [The History of Early Fireworks and Fire Arrows] — About.com Although fire arrows were made in a variety of forms and launched in diverse manners, the first ones consisted of a pouch of black powder with a stick attached to it and were launched on a stand of bamboo sticks. Instead of using fins like the modern rockets, the fire arrow uses long stick to increase its stability and accuracy. Gunpowder was later introduced to Korea, where the singijeon, a different form of the rocket, was made into use. Ironically, the Mongols, against whom the Chinese had primarily used the weapon, also made use of the Fire Arrow during their campaigns in Japan.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} The usage of the Fire Arrow later spread into Middle East as a result of the Mongolian campaigns.

Bibliography

See also

• Gunpowder
• Cannon
• Science and technology in China

External links

• [Great Chinese Encyclopedia - Ancient Chinese Rocket]
• http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blrockethistory.htm
• http://neurosis.hungry.com/~ben/rocketry/firearrow.html
• http://www.spaceline.org/history/1.html

 

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