The Process of Gunpowder

By JackoBlacko
  • The Elixir of life
    210 BCE

    The Elixir of life

    The quest for The Elixir Of Life was the beginning of gunpowder
  • Earliest reference to gunpowder
    142

    Earliest reference to gunpowder

    The earliest recorded reference to gunpowder was in Cantong qi
  • Ingredients recorded
    300

    Ingredients recorded

    The ingredients in gunpowder are recorded in the Baopuzi
  • Potassium nitrate burns with a purple flame
    492

    Potassium nitrate burns with a purple flame

    Potassium Nitrate is an ingredient in gunpowder and finding out that it burns with a purple flame is very important
  • Yin of The Air
    756

    Yin of The Air

    The Yin of the air (yin meaning harmony) is found by HEATING (not burning) potassium nitrate. The yin of the air is sulphur, carbon and other metals than gold
  • The ingredients in Baopuzi brought back
    808

    The ingredients in Baopuzi brought back

    The ingredients being 10% sulfur, 75% potassium nitrate, and 15% charcoal.
  • There is a saying to warn people about gunpowder
    858

    There is a saying to warn people about gunpowder

    "Zhenyuan miaodao yaolüe" is to tell people to be safe with gunpowder
  • The production of gunpowder
    904

    The production of gunpowder

    Still trying to find the Elixir of Life, alchemists accidentally made gunpowder
  • Tang Fu demonstrates items with gunpowder to Song Court
    1000

    Tang Fu demonstrates items with gunpowder to Song Court

    This inspires Song Court to make more weapons
  • The Song Court produce 3000 fire arrows
    1083

    The Song Court produce 3000 fire arrows

    Seeing Tang Fu they were inspired and made weapons of their own
  • The song army makes a firework show using gunpowder
    1110

    The song army makes a firework show using gunpowder

    They used gunpowder to create the first fireworks
  • thunderclap bomb is made
    1126

    thunderclap bomb is made

  • Molten metal bombs are made
    1127

    Molten metal bombs are made

    they are used in war to contradict the other armies because they captured song artisans who made gunpowder bombs
  • the first cannon is made
    1128

    the first cannon is made

  • Song armies start using more gunpowder weapons in war
    1129

    Song armies start using more gunpowder weapons in war

    Song warships are outfitted with trebuchets and supplies of gunpowder bombs.
  • Fire lances are used by song troops
    1132

    Fire lances are used by song troops

  • firecrackers using gunpowder are mentioned for the first time
    1132

    firecrackers using gunpowder are mentioned for the first time

  • fire arrows are used to sink a ship by the song army
    1159

    fire arrows are used to sink a ship by the song army

  • thunder clap bombs are used to sink a ship
    1161

    thunder clap bombs are used to sink a ship

  • fire lances are used on war carts
    1163

    fire lances are used on war carts

    they are known as at-your-desire-war-carts. They are used for defending song mobile trebuchets

  • Sources

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_gunpowder_age
    https://www.thoughtco.com/invention-of-gunpowder-195160
    https://epicfireworks.com/history-of-gunpowder