Gunpowder was discovered in China during the 9th century. The first firearm, known as the fire lance, emerged in China between the 10th and 12th centuries. While a silk painting from the mid-10th century depicted it, written evidence of its use appeared in 1132 during the siege of De'an.
The fire lance comprised a bamboo tube of gunpowder attached to a spear or polearm. By the late 1100s, shrapnel like porcelain shards or small iron pellets were added to the tube. This early firearm had a relatively short range, reaching about 3 meters by the early 13th century. Some historians classify the fire lance as a "proto-gun" because its projectiles did not block the barrel. Another type, called the eruptor by Joseph Needham, was also considered a "proto-gun" as it lacked a lance and did not shoot projectiles that occluded the barrel.
Over time, the propellant's composition evolved by increasing the proportion of saltpeter to enhance explosive power. To withstand this increased explosive force, the original paper and bamboo construction of fire-lance barrels was replaced with metal. Additionally, projectiles evolved to better fill the barrel, replacing shrapnel. Metal barrels for fire lances appeared by 1276. In 1259, a recorded use of a pellet wad marked the first bullet in history. By this point, the fundamental elements of a gun were established: a metal barrel, high-nitrate gunpowder, and a projectile fully obstructing the muzzle for maximum propellant effect.
By the late 13th century, metal-barrel fire lances, used without the lance, transformed into guns. Hand cannons, such as those used in the Yuan dynasty by the 1280s, played a significant role. Surviving cannons from the late 13th century, like the Heilongjiang hand cannon and the Xanadu Gun, highlight the early use of firearms.
In 1287, Jurchen troops deployed hand cannons to quell a rebellion, causing significant damage and confusion. The term "chong" with the metal radical jin began to replace the earlier term huo tong for metal-barrel firearms. Hand cannons may have been used in Mongol invasions of Japan, as historical records mention iron and bamboo pao emitting light and fire, along with thousands of iron bullets. Descriptions from the Battle of Tsushima in 1274 and the coastal assault in 1281 further illustrate the early use of firearms in warfare.
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Gun Encyclopedia
RandomA firearm, an essential component of modern weaponry, is a portable and hand-held device designed for launching projectiles at high speeds. The primary components include a barrel, which guides the projectile's trajectory, a firing mechanism to init...
