Song Fire Lances and Handguns

Timeline

1. 1044Kaifeng, Northern Song capital · Central PlainsZeng Gongliang and others compiled Wujing Zongyao, systematically recording fire lances that sprayed flame from gunpowder-filled bamboo tubes and various incendiary recipes, marking a key step in documenting firearms from folk pyrotechnics to military treatises.
2. 1211–1218Southern Song Huai River–Yangtze defense line · JianghuaiDuring the Mongol attack on Jin, frequent fighting along the Song-Jin border led Southern Song frontier troops to deploy fire lances, thunderbolts, and other firearms in fortresses and siege defense, disrupting enemy assault ranks with flame and smoke; firearms became a standard item in the defensive arsenal.
3. 1219–1220Lin'an armories · JiangnanLate Southern Song armories experimented with copper and iron barrel firearms based on bamboo-wood fire lances; some pieces already had powder chambers and touch-holes, laying a craft foundation for mass equipping of metal handguns in the Yuan and Ming, though fortress fire lances remained the main form.