() was a type of Korean fire arrow rocket, used during the era of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Multiple sin'gijŏn could be launched by (multiple rocket launcher).
History
During the late 14th century, in order to gain ascendancy at sea against Japanese pirates ( or ), fire arrows called () were used, which would become the predecessor of the
sin'gijŏn.
[ Fifty Wonders of Korea, Volume 2, Korean Spirit and Culture Series, Authors Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project, Diamond Sutra Recitation Group, Publisher Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project, 2007, , P.51-60][ Science and Technology in Korean History: Excursions, Innovations, and Issues, Jain Publishing Company, 2005, , P.82] The Koreans had tried to acquire rockets and gunpowder and their production methods from China. The Chinese, however, regarded the technology of
gunpowder as a state secret and restricted access to it and trade in its nitrous raw materials (which could only be found in China). The Koreans therefore sought to acquire the manufacturing secrets of gunpowder for themselves and, in 1374 (–1376), Ch'oe Musŏn was able to bribe a Chinese merchant to obtain the secret formula for manufacturing
gunpowder, as well as limited technical knowledge about Chinese firearm and
cannon technology. He also successfully extracted potassium nitrate from the
soil[ Seoul National University] and rocks from Japanese trade routes, and developed Korea's first gunpowder.
Details of the sin'gijŏn were not known until very recently. Korean historians had found the schematics added as an appendix in the book () but did not realize what they were until the academic Chae Yeon-suk identified them as the lost schematics of the sin'gijŏn. The schematics detail the lengths of wooden materials, using units down to . The schematics are one of the best representations of the acute scientific understanding of the Joseon Dynasty.
The sin'gijŏn 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 defence against Japanese pirates and was much used throughout the conflicts during the Joseon Dynasty. During the Imjin War, General Kwŏn Yul attributed his successful defense of the fortress Haengjusanseong against numerically superior Japanese forces to the .
Overview
Sin'gijŏn were divided among three major types: large, medium, and small. The long
rocket 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 .
[ Nolruwa.pcBee.co.kr ] The medium
sin'gijŏn was of the same construction and function as the large
sin'gijŏn, but, due to its smaller size of ,
its range was limited to .
[ Gwahak Jilmoon QnA ] However, its explosive warhead was still powerful enough to make a deep crater in a patch of sand. The small
sin'gijŏn 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, and had a range of . All gunpowder weapons including the
sin'gijŏn used black powder.
See also
