Singijeon
Encyclopedia
Singijeon or Shinkichon (literally "Spirit Mechanic Arrow") is a multi-launch rocket invented by Korean general Choe Mu-seon
Choe Mu-seon
Choe Mu-Seon was a medieval Korean scientist, inventor, and military commander during the late Goryeo Dynasty and early Joseon Dynasty...

 in 1377, during the Goryeo Dynasty under King U
U of Goryeo
U of Goryeo ruled Goryeo from 1374 until 1388.-Cultural background:In the thirteenth century, Mongol forces had advanced into China, and established the Yuan Dynasty in 1271...

. These were launched by multiple means, such as the hwacha
Hwacha
Hwacha or Hwach'a is the world's first multiple rocket launcher developed and used in Joseon Korea. It had the ability to fire up to 100 steel-tipped rockets, or 200 Singijeon flaming arrow projectiles from a range of 500 yards in multiple salvos...

 and other large-barreled guns.

History

In order to gain ascendancy in the sea against the Japanese pirates
Wokou
Wokou , which literally translates as "Japanese pirates" in English, were pirates of varying origins who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century onwards...

, the Koreans had tried to acquire rockets and gunpowder and their production methods from China. But the Chinese regarded the technology of gunpowder manufacture as a state secret and restricted access to it and its nitrous raw materials (which could only be found in China) trade. Therefore, Koreans sought to acquire the manufacturing secrets of gunpowder for themselves, and, in 1374 (~1376), Choe
Choe Mu-seon
Choe Mu-Seon was a medieval Korean scientist, inventor, and military commander during the late Goryeo Dynasty and early Joseon Dynasty...

 successfully extracted potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...

 from the soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...

 and rocks from Japanese trade routes, and developed Korea's first gunpowder.

The Juhwa were the first singijeon, and the result of efforts to acquire the technology to manufacture gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...

.

Singijeon saw most of its early use in the Northern borders of Joseon, in the campaign to expand its northern borders by driving out the "Orangkae" ("Barbarians," especially referring the Jurchen people). Later, its uses expanded to coastal defense against Japanese pirates and was much used throughout the conflicts during the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...

. During the Imjin War, General Gwon Yul
Gwon Yul
Kwon Yul was a Korean Army General and the Commander-in-chief of the Joseon Dynasty, who successfully led the Korean forces against Japan during the Japanese invasions of Korea...

 attributed his perilously outnumbered yet successful defence against the Japanese forces at the Haengju mountain fortress to the Singijeon.

The location of the schematics of the singijeon were not known until much recently. Korean historians had found the schematics stuck as an appendix in the book "Gukjo Orye Seorye" (국조오례서례, 國朝五禮序例) but did not realize what it was until Dr. Chae Yeon-suk affirmed them as the hidden schematics of the singijeon. The schematics detail the lengths of wooden materials using units down to 0.3mm. The schematics are one of the best representations of the acute scientific understanding of the Joseon Dynasty.

Overview

Singijeon were divided among three major types: large, medium, and small. The 52 cm long rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...

 was launched individually on a handheld gun, and the launch was initiated by a fuse in the tube. Even after launch, the fuse would remain in the tube, consuming the black powder until it hit the "warhead" and caused detonation. The fuse length was determined by the amount of gunpowder in the paper tube, and was adjusted depending on the distance that the missile had to cover so that it would explode on the target. Its range was around 1 to 2 kilometers. The medium singijeon was of the same construction and function as the large singijeon, but, due to its smaller size of 13 cm, its range was limited to 150 meters. However, its explosive warhead was still powerful enough to make a 30 cm-deep crater in a patch of sand. The small singijeon was simply an arrow with a gunpowder pouch attached to it, and had no explosive capabilities. It was launched in multiples of 100 by a hwacha
Hwacha
Hwacha or Hwach'a is the world's first multiple rocket launcher developed and used in Joseon Korea. It had the ability to fire up to 100 steel-tipped rockets, or 200 Singijeon flaming arrow projectiles from a range of 500 yards in multiple salvos...

, and had a range of 100 meters. All gunpowder weapons including the singijeon used black powder.

In popular culture

In the famous strategy video videogame Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion, the Singijeon, under the name of Shinkichon, is the unique technology of the Koreans, increasing in +1 the mangonel line range.

The Singijeon is shown in a Korean historical film in 2008, also entitled "The Divine Weapon
The Divine Weapon
- Plot :During the reign of King Sejong the Great, Joseon Korea faces increasing hostility from Ming China. Ming China, without restraint, mounts unrelenting demands against the Korean crown, further entrenching distrust and aversion to subservience. Ming China has especially been provoked by a...

".

See also

  • Korean bow
  • Hwacha
    Hwacha
    Hwacha or Hwach'a is the world's first multiple rocket launcher developed and used in Joseon Korea. It had the ability to fire up to 100 steel-tipped rockets, or 200 Singijeon flaming arrow projectiles from a range of 500 yards in multiple salvos...

  • Imjin War
  • Gunpowder
    Gunpowder
    Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...

  • Firework
  • Cannon
    Cannon
    A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...

  • Fire Arrow
    Fire Arrow
    Fire arrows are an early form of gun powder rocket which were attached to a stick. The Chinese are credited with the first use of fire arrows in a military application, they may have developed fire arrows from their use of fireworks.- Design :...

  • Huolongjing
    Huolongjing
    The Huolongjing is a 14th century military treatise that was compiled and edited by Jiao Yu and Liu Ji of the early Ming Dynasty in China...

  • Korean cannon
    Korean cannon
    Cannon in Korea were first developed by Choe Mu-seon, for exclusive use by the Goryeo Army. Several types were made and saw successful action during the Mongol invasions of Japan...

  • Chongtong
    Chongtong
    The Chongtong was the general name of Korean gunnery used during the early to mid Joseon Dynasty. There were many different types, including: Cheonja , Jija , Hyeonja , Hwangja or , Se, and Seungja...

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