Gao, Ce (Author)
Wang, Jian (Author)
Yang, Xiaoming (Author)
Ziran Kexueshi Yanjiu (Studies in the History of Natural Sciences)
Volume: 33
Issue: 4
Pages: 467-478
Gunpowder is regarded as one of the greatest inventions in the history of mankind.Due mainly to the studies from Chinese scholars since the 20 th century,the name of China has been gradually connected with the invention of gunpowder. Among these Chinese scholars,Feng Chiasheng and Wang Ling have been generally accepted as the pioneers in the field of the history of gunpowder in ancient China. In view of the newly discovered firsthand historical materials,however,this paper deems that Cao Huanwen began his research earlier than the study of Feng and Wang,whether about the publication or the reading off of papers. What matters most is that Cao firstly and independently developed the idea which was generally accepted as the basic thesis of the following research since Feng and Wang. The paper states clearly that it was the ancient Chinese medico-alchemists who invented gunpowder. For this conclusion,Cao had made a more justifiable and convincing job. In addition,one of Cao’s manuscript works,Materials of the Complete History of Gunpowder in Ancient China,which it took nearly 20 years to work on,is so far the only discovered writings assembling the research data of the Chinese history of gunpowder. Meanwhile,Cao’s many other ideas could also be the academic works of independent thought,for example,gunpowder was invented during the times of Wei and Jin and was well-known in the Northern and Southern Dynasties,and it was used firstly among the people and then to military purpose,and the dissemination of gunpowder from China to the West via Arabia was due to Mongolia’s "active" imparting.
...MoreSimilar Citations
Article
Brenda J. Buchanan;
(2011)
The Gunpowder Heritage: 'Re-using the Industrial Past'
(/isis/citation/CBB876662754/)
Chapter
Cheng Zheng;
Xiaoyuan Jiang;
(2021)
Gunpowder and Firearms in Ancient China
(/isis/citation/CBB663227741/)
Book
Tonio Andrade;
(2016)
The Gunpowder Age: China, Military Innovation, and the Rise of the West in World History
(/isis/citation/CBB847607484/)
Book
Xiaoyuan Jiang;
(2021)
A New Phase of Systematic Development of Scientific Theories in China: History of Science and Technology in China Volume 4
(/isis/citation/CBB281376897/)
Chapter
Oldman, Elizabeth;
(2007)
Technocrat of Gunpowder and Cannon: Satan's Mechanical Contrivances in Paradise Lost's War in Heaven
(/isis/citation/CBB000760264/)
Chapter
Dalen, Benno van;
(2002)
Islamic and Chinese Astronomy under the Mongols: a Little-Known Case of Transmission
(/isis/citation/CBB000203440/)
Book
Sonja Brentjes;
Jürgen Renn;
(2016)
Globalization of Knowledge in the Post-Antique Mediterranean, 700-1500
(/isis/citation/CBB719775288/)
Article
Mohammadifar, Shamameh;
(2011)
The Origin, History and Trade Route of Cinnamon
(/isis/citation/CBB001510325/)
Article
Boomgaard, Peter;
(2008)
Technologies of a Trading Empire: Dutch Introduction of Water- and Windmills in Early-Modern Asia, 1650s--1800
(/isis/citation/CBB000850073/)
Book
Gan, Fuxi;
Brill, Robert H.;
Tian, Shouyun;
(2009)
Ancient Glass Research along the Silk Road
(/isis/citation/CBB001250391/)
Article
Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan;
Tsagaan Turbat;
Chinbold Bayandelger;
Tumurbaatar Tuvshinjargal;
Juan Wang;
Igor Chechushkov;
Manabu Uetsuki;
Naoto Isahaya;
Mark Hudson;
Noriyuki Shiraishi;
Yue Li;
Chengrui Zhang;
Gelegdorj Eregzen;
Gino Caspari;
Paula López-Calle;
Joshua L. Conver;
Gaëtan Tressières;
Lorelei Chauvey;
Julie Birgel;
Nasan-Ochir Erdene-Ochir;
Jan Bemmann;
Gregory Hodgins;
Kristine K. Richter;
Ludovic Orlando;
Christina Warinner;
William Timothy Treal Taylor;
(2024)
The origins of saddles and riding technology in East Asia: discoveries from the Mongolian Altai
(/isis/citation/CBB689350392/)
Article
Borisov, V. P.;
(2012)
The Father of Television under FBI Surveillance: The Scientist and Inventor V. K. Zworykin in the 1940s
(/isis/citation/CBB001211417/)
Article
Brenda J. Buchanan;
(2014)
Gunpowder Studies at ICOHTEC
(/isis/citation/CBB430884631/)
Book
Marco Versiero;
(2023)
Leonardo da Vinci: Le macchine da guerra
(/isis/citation/CBB707040180/)
Book
Denny, Mark;
(2011)
Their Arrows Will Darken the Sun: The Evolution and Science of Ballistics
(/isis/citation/CBB001033409/)
Article
Bergman, Yoel;
(2009)
Paul Vieille, Cordite, and Ballistite
(/isis/citation/CBB001450896/)
Book
Marco Formisano;
Hartmut Böhme;
(2011)
War in Words: Transformations of War from Antiquity to Clausewitz
(/isis/citation/CBB645658776/)
Book
Adrienne Mayor;
(2018)
Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology
(/isis/citation/CBB892284362/)
Article
Wagner, Donald B.;
(2005)
Thematic Issue: Cannons, Gunpowder, Artillery, Military Modernization and Technology in the Medieval Period
(/isis/citation/CBB000600491/)
Article
Lü, Daoen;
(2013)
A New Study on the Invention of Photo-Zincography and Photo-Lithography and Their First Introduction to China
(/isis/citation/CBB001200175/)
Be the first to comment!