THE INVENTION OF FIREWORKS

By: Parker Gunnison

HISTORY BEHIND THE INVENTION OF

FIREWORKS

There is a legend behind the invention of fireworks by the Chinese. It is said that one day a chef with the Chinese army mixed three common kitchen ingredients, saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal. He dropped these ingredients inadvertently into fire and this produced a colorful flame. This made him excited and he tried to burn it in a closed bamboo shoot. This resulted in an enormous explosion. Thus, the basic firecracker was born. This crude black powder that constituted the ancient fireworks mixture was named as 'huo yao' (fire chemical) by the Chinese.

Many stories mention a Chinese monk named Li Tian of Liu Yang in Hunan Province as the inventor of fireworks. The Chinese celebrate the invention of firecrackers on April 18 and offer sacrifices to him. To this date, Liu Yang is the main region which produces fireworks. Legend has it, Li Tian ignited a bamboo tube filled with gunpowder and the loud band got rid of the ghost of an evil dragon that haunted emperor Li Shiming in the Tang Dynasty. Thus, the people named Li Tian as the founder of firecrackers

HISTORY BEHIND THE INVENTION OF FIREWORKS

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THEN AN D TO DAY ’S F IR EWO R K

Today the firework is used to celebrate many things, such as fourth of July, graduation, getting a home run and so on. In ancient times the Chinese used fireworks to ward off evil sprits like evil dragons, and ghost.