arrow with a
bomb at the end 
a "gun"
The Chinese invented the gunpowder in around the seventh and the eighth centuries. Early in the Tang dynasty, there were ancient books' records of gunpowder making. This influential invention was invented accidentally by the Daoist alchemists.
Invention
Development
Dissemination
It was invented by the Chinese at around the seventh and the eighth centuries, according to some records made in the Tang Dynasty. At that time, many Daoists would practise alchemy, that is, mixing different kinds of materials together for refinery, trying to obtain elixir from the process. However, accidents occurred when the Daoists tried to refine the powdered mixture of charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter. Explosions were caused. Later on, more and more alchemists who followed the same method got hurt or burnt by the explosions caused. The Chinese then discovered that the mixture of charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter in a fixed proportion is highly flammable. They called this "medicine" (the ancient Chinese treated charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter as medicines) the "fire medicine", which became the ancestor of gunpowder widely used nowadays.
Development
To the Chinese living in the Tang Dynasty, gunpowder was nothing
more than an entertaining accessory. They used it to making beautiful fireworks
for celebration of important festivals and official ceremonies. It was
not until the eleventh century that the Chinese learned to apply the gunpowder
for warfare. Several types of gunpowder were produced by the Chinese for
different applications, e.g. the black gunpowder for making explosive grenades
and bombs which were to be hurled to enemies using catapults, another type
of gunpowder for large guns and cannons, and the other for making signal
rockets and flame throwers.
In the Northern Song Dynasty, flammable weapons such as arrows with small bombs, cannons and grenades were produced. When it came to the Southern Song Dynasty, gunpowder was widely used in wars to make explosive weapons, such as cannons and guns filled with small arrows, metal balls and gunpowder.
During the Yuen and Ming Dynasties, gunpowder was further developed. Apart from cannons made of steel and copper, gas-propelled rockets were also available.
To the twelfth century, the Chinese had already managed to use gunpowder
to make different types of flame. These were usually used to produce a
joyful atmosphere in festivals.
arrow with a
bomb at the end a "gun"
Dissemination
The Mongols in the north of China gradually learned the use of gunpowder.
During their three conquests in the West, their use of gunpowder had brought
them victories over their enemies. This surprised the Europeans and caught
their attention. The Europeans then obtained the knowledge of making and
using gunpowder. Apart from making weapons, the Europeans further widen
gunpowder's application onto mining and building roads, which tributes
much to the improvement in living condition and modern technology enjoyed
by modern people.
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