Discovery of Gunpowder

Among the list of chemical explosives, the gunpowder was the only known 'recipe' for many centuries. Discovered by the ancient Chinese civilization, gunpowder and its ingredients were briefly mentioned in the Taoist text Zhenyuan miaodao yaolue, though, the properties and its usage as an explosive agent was not explored and experimented with. The first written procedure for the manufacture of gunpowder is seen in the Chinese military guide Wujing Zongyao. Though, many burning agents such as the Greek fire had been used previously, the first explosive agent is the gunpowder whose roots can be traced back to the Chinese alchemy experiments. It is believed that the Chinese alchemists of the 9th Century, discovered gunpowder accidentally when an experiment for the search of elixir of life went haywire. Sometimes it is also argued that gunpowder might have been discovered or invented earlier since the Chinese alchemists were familiar with substances like saltpeter and sulfur.

Gunpowder and Wujing Zongyao

In ancient China, gunpowder was initially used as a propellant in firecrackers. The invention of firearms and the discovery of gunpowder and many more related explosive recipes of the gunpowder led to a drastic change in the battlefield. Crude bombs and firearms started appearing in the Asian continent in the 9th and 10th Centuries. The first standardized and most successful procedures were laid down in the Wujing Zongyaowhich was a Chinese military guide written by prominent scholars, Zeng Gongliang, Yang Weide and Ding Du who collaborated in 1044 AD to pen a "collection of the most important military techniques". Chinese alchemists had, by this time, discovered gunpowder of the most explosive nature that consisted of saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal and some other ingredients. Many new discoveries and variants kept on appearing till the modern era when, substance like nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, smokeless powder and TNT were developed.

One of the most famous discovery of gunpowder variants mentioned in the Wujing Zongyao, consists of 48.5% saltpeter, 25.5% sulfur and 21.5% of other ingredients. This combination was used to manufacture incendiary bombs that were hurled by the siege engines.

Another mixture contained 38.5% of saltpeter, 19% sulfur, 6.4% charcoal and 35.85% other ingredients. This mixture was used as a fuel for poisonous smoke bombs. Arsenic and mercury were also, many a times, added to make the gunpowder poisonous.

Variants of Gunpowder

There are several variants and different uses of the gunpowder. The discovery of the gunpowder drastically changed warfare. It not only led to the use of firearms on the battle field but many more weapons such as poisonous bombs, grenades, fire arrows and even land mines were developed.

A Chinese text known as Hu Long Jing, from the 14th Century depicts the multi-stage rockets, fire arrows, different types of fireworks and military as well as naval and military explosives and mines. The book also describes Chinese musketeers.

During the siege of Pyongyang in the year 1593, about 40,000 Chinese soldiers used a variety of cannons and firearms such as muskets.

The Chinese empire tried very hard to keep the discovery of the recipe of the gunpowder a secret . However, it soon leaked out. Kingdoms in Mongolia and India began to make the use of gunpowder especially on the battlefield and for various purposes like fireworks, making mine shafts, tunneling, and the construction of canals.

Dispute over Further Development of Gunpowder

Countries in Asia like China, India, Mongolia and the Islamic Sates came up with their own variants, innovations and different discoveries of gunpowder mixtures.

The variant of gunpowder that was used by the Europeans was the black powder. The discovery of black powder is however, disputed as two people claim the credit. Some people believe that the innovator who discovered it was Roger Bacon, who was a Franciscan monk and an alchemist. Another Franciscan monk who is said to have innovated the black powder is Berthold der Schwarze. He was also known as 'Berthold the Black' and is said to have invented the first gun. However, facts about Berthold the Black are not clearly known and the dates of his birth, death and the time when he invented the gun or the black powder are disputed. In his epitaph it is said:

"Here lies Berthold the Black,
the most abominable of humans,
who by his invention has brought misery,
to the rest of humanity."

One could argue with the writer of the epitaph of Berthold the Black. The contribution of Chinese civilization in the discovery of gunpowder did not just change the battlefield scenario. In fact, more innovative and creative uses of gunpowder have helped man move mountains during mining and tunneling, turn deserts into lush green fields by building canals and make the civilization more comfortable and safer than before. It is certain, that the discovery of gunpowder has dictated the course of many events in history, in war and in peace.