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Max

Page history last edited by jh1 14 years, 4 months ago

 

Max Lyons

11/16/09

 

Firecrackers and Fireworks: The History

 

         Many people have seen and even used firecrackers, as well as fireworks, but how and where were they invented? They shoot up into the sky and break, showering back down to earth with bright, festive colors, but how do they make those colors? There was one country that invented fireworks, and one that “perfected” them. In the Han Dynasty (206-220 BC), people would roast green bamboo, which would explode and make loud noises to disperse ghosts and apparitions from the air. In the North and South dynasties (420-581 AD) (fireworks.com/t-Fireworks-History.aspx ) the sounds from exploding bamboo were thought to bring happiness and prosperity. The reason that these stalks of bamboo would explode is because within each piece of bamboo, there are small, chamber-like sections with oxygen inside of them. When the fire would roast bamboo, the gas would get to the oxygen inside and explode the bamboo.

 

         Fireworks and firecrackers were used for only a few things at first, such as emperor’s festivals, wealthy people’s wedding, and the Chinese Lunar new year. Basically, at first, you had to be very wealthy to get fireworks, but now, you can buy them almost anywhere, as long as you are in a state where it is legal to own fireworks.

 

         Gunpowder was invented accidentally, with very big results. During the Sui and Tang dynasties (600-900 A.D), gunpowder was discovered by a group of alchemists. They were experimenting with sulfurous mixes in an attempt to create an elixir of life. This mix was made with sulfur, saltpeter, honey, as well as arsenic disulfide. The mixture accidentally ignited while is was being cooked over a fire, which resulted in a large, bright flame that burnt the hands and faces of the alchemists that were working on this mixture, as well as burning down the shack that they were working in. This mixture was eventually called “huo yao”, or translated into English, “fire chemical”, or “fire drug”.

        

         It was soon discovered by Chinese people that if the fire drug was put into the air chambers of the green bamboo, the gases produced by the burning powder would blast the tube apart with a much louder, and more powerful bang than before. This was the invention of the firecracker. At the end of the Northern Song dynasty, paper tubes were filled with gunpowder and produced a new type of firecracker. These were strung together with hemp rope and called “hundred break crackers”. It is said that Emporer Li Shiming’s (Tang dynasty, 618-907 A.D) prime minister Wei Ahou killed an evil dragon, which eventually came back to haunt him. Li Tian, a Chinese man, filled a piece of green bamboo with a pyrotechnic composition. The loud bang made when the bamboo was ignited frightened the ghost of the evil dragon, which made the ghost leave. Nowadays, people call Li Tian the founder of firecrackers and every April 18th, people offer sacrifices of him.

        

         The Chinese were very aware of the killing power of firecrackers, and by the 10th century, they began to use them for military purposes. The Chinese military used their gunpowder to create a different amount of explosives, including very crude bombs and something they called “fire arrows”, which were bamboo firecrackers attached to regular arrows and shot at the enemy. As gunpowder started to change, so did the firecrackers. Instead of just a bamboo tube, the gunpowder was put into a stiff paper tube, and a trail of tissue paper would be used for the fuse. One variation of the firecracker, called the ground rat, was a normal firecracker with one open end. The burning gas would cause the rat to be propelled on the ground at random angles. At first, these were used in the military to scare horses, causing them to flip the riders off, but soon, guidance fins were put on the rat so they would shoot straight into the enemies. This was the creation of the first rocket. Firework makers soon took the military’s design and put an explosive charge in, which was then fired into the air. These were the first uses of aerial fireworks.

 

         Ever since Marco Polo brought back fireworks from China in 1292, the Italians were turning fireworks into a true art form. Many new fireworks were created in the 1300’s, as well as colors being added to them. Fireworks were eventually mixed with different chemicals to get the colors that we use today. At first, fireworks were only colored orange/red, which came from the explosion of the firework, as well as white, sparks from the metal powders. Then, as pyrotechnics experimented with adding different chemicals to the fireworks, a whole batch of colors were invented. To get yellow, you mix sodium salts. For red, you add in calcium, and for crimson, strontium. To get green, you add barium, and green-blue, you add copper. To get blinding, electric white you add magnesium and aluminum. If you add chlorine, it brightens the colors.

 

         When fireworks were invented, they were one color, and only one type, but now, there are a ton of colors, as well as many designs, large fireworks, small fireworks, the lists are almost endless. When they were invented, fireworks were only used for the Lunar New Year, but if you were wealthy, you could have them at your wedding, or a festival you hold. Within a hundred years, though, fireworks were being used more frequently, for festivals and events like China National Day, the Kite Festival of Weifan, and the Grape Festival of Turpan. Today, in modern China, they are used for birthdays, business launches, weddings, as well as honoring guests. Ancient Chinese people believed that fireworks were a good sign for your life, which might be why they spread around the world so quickly. It was believed that sparks were a good omen, the loud sound would frighten ghosts, and the smoke would create a healthy atmosphere. Nowadays, we don’t really believe that, but fireworks are fun to watch, and mostly everyone gets to see them on Independence Day.

 

         Although the Chinese invented the firecracker and fireworks, they were only on the tip of the iceberg for what was about to happen to them. Once Marco Polo brought them back to Italy, the Italians seemed to drop everything and create an art form using jet propelled rockets. After the invention of color to the firework, they were not only used to frighten spirits away, but to celebrate, and make people’s lives happier with the bright, deep colors. Since the Chinese invented fireworks, it seems they should get all of the credit, because if they were never invented, then they wouldn’t be here today. But the Italians seemed to do more good to the firework, and spread them around to the public more. So while the Chinese invented the firework, the Italians “perfected” them. There is an ongoing debate on which culture deserves more credit, but its really up to you to decide.

 

A link for PyroUniverse

 

Phantom Fireworks

 

American Pyro

 

Encyclopedia Britannica 

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