The fire lance (simplified Chinese: 火枪; traditional Chinese: 火槍; pinyin: huǒqiāng; lit. 'fire spear') was a gunpowder weapon used by lighting it on fire, and is the ancestor of modern firearms. [1]

By A.D. 1150, Song soldiers were using bamboo and wood proto-guns known as fire lances that were essentially flamethrowers. Historians have long regarded the Song Dynasty as militarily weak...

The fire lance was a tube, made of paper and bamboo, [3] filled with black-powder and attached to the end of a spear, which was used as a flamethrower. Shrapnel or pellets were sometimes placed in the barrel so that they would fly out together with the flames.

The fire lance (simplified Chinese: 火枪; traditional Chinese: 火槍; pinyin: huǒ qiāng) or fire spear is one of the first gunpowder weapons in the world. The earliest fire lances were spear-like weapons combining a bamboo tube containing gunpowder and projectiles tied to …

The fire lance (simplified Chinese: 火枪; traditional Chinese: 火槍; pinyin: huǒqiāng; lit. 'fire spear') was a gunpowder weapon used by lighting it on fire, and is the ancestor of modern firearms. It first appeared in 10th–12th century China and was used to great effect during the Jin-Song Wars.

The fire lance was a gunpowder weapon used by lighting it on fire, and is the ancestor of modern firearms. It first appeared in 10th–12th century China and was used to great effect during the Jin-Song Wars .

Nov 26, 2022 · The fire lance, as its name implies, is a long staff at the end of which is affixed a tube filled with gunpowder. The gunpowder is lit and then, ideally, spews forth. It’s hard to locate the precise origin of the fire lance, and some historians have suggested that …

Mar 18, 2025 · Originating in ancient China during the tumultuous period of technological advancement, this remarkable weapon would become a critical precursor to modern firearms. The fire lance emerged during the Song Dynasty, specifically around the 10th century, in a period of intense military innovation.

Nov 3, 2024 · The fire lance (simplified Chinese: 火枪; traditional Chinese: 火槍; pinyin: huǒqiāng; literally "fire spear") was a gunpowder weapon and the ancestor of modern firearms. It first appeared in 10th–12th century China and was used to great effect during the Jin-Song Wars.

Fire lances were early firearms used in warfare during the Song Dynasty in China, featuring a bamboo tube filled with gunpowder that would shoot flames and projectiles when ignited. This invention marked a significant advancement in military technology, showcasing the transition from traditional weapons to gunpowder-based armaments.