An Unexpected Discovery in Chinese Alchemy – Decoding the Gunpowder Code of the Secret of the Golden Elixir of Taishang Shengzu

1.1 An Unexpected Discovery in Chinese Alchemy - Decoding the Gunpowder Code of the Secret of the Golden Elixir of Taishang Shengzu

Subtitle: How the bursting of the Dan furnace in 808 AD rewrote the course of human civilisation?This article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

I. The Chemical Enlightenment of AlchemyThis article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

In the third year of Emperor Xianzong Yuanhe of the Tang Dynasty (808 A.D.), Qingxuzi's "Alum Method of Vulcanic Fire" recorded in "The Secret of the Golden Elixir of the Holy Ancestors of the Taishang" accidentally left behind the earliest prototype of gunpowder formulae for human beings. This technique, which was intended to be a means of refining the elixir of immortality, actually accomplished the first systematic pairing of the three components of sulphur (S), saltpeter (KNO₃), and charcoal saponin (C):This article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

The original ancient text:
"Sulfur two two, nitrate two two, aristolochia three and a half money. Right for the end, mix well, digging the pit into the medicine in the jar, and the ground level. Put a piece of cooked fire as big as a marble inside, and the smoke will gradually rise.This article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

The description of "smoke rising gradually" in this text is actually the gas jet phenomenon produced by incomplete combustion. Modern experiments show that the formula combustion temperature of up to 780 ℃ (± 50 ℃), although not up to the threshold of explosion, but marks a major breakthrough in controlled combustion technology.This article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

II. Formulation analysis and technical limitationsThis article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

1. Component ratios (converted to modern units of measurement):
   • Sulphur: 75g (purity of about 60%, containing quartz and other impurities)
   • Saltpeter: 75g (≤50% potassium nitrate, containing sodium chloride and other minerals)
   • Aristolochia powder: 13g (charred plants provide a porous carbon structure)
2. Process Defects:
   • Lack of nitrate purification technology (recrystallisation not used)
   • Lack of particle size control (hand grinding to 80-100 mesh)
   • Poor mixing uniformity (wet granulation not used)
3. Energy Release:
   • Burning speed: 0.8-1.2cm/s (300-400cm/s for modern black powder)
   • Gas production: about 40L/kg (only 15% of modern formulations)

III. Technological Transformation from the Den to the BattlefieldThis article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

1. Militarised improvements during the Five Dynasties (10th century):
   • Addition of turpentine as a binder (improved densification)
   • Introduced bamboo tube sealing structure (increased combustion efficiency by three times).
   • Used in "Flying Fire" siege equipment (recorded in the Jiu Guo Zhi).
2. Definitive formula of Song Dynasty (1044, "The General Principles of Martial Arts"):
   • Percentage of saltpeter increased to 60% (oxygen balance optimisation)
   • Toxic ingredients such as wolfsbane and arsenic were introduced (early prototype of biochemical weapons)

IV. Modern experimental archaeological verificationThis article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

In 2021, the metallurgical archaeology team at the University of Science and Technology Beijing recovered the formula, which was observed through high-speed photography:This article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

• Delayed eruption: 6.8 seconds from ignition to visible smoke emission (due to low rate of nitrate decomposition)
• Residue analysis: large amounts of unreacted potassium sulphate (K₂SO₄) with potassium sulphide (K₂S)
• Thermal imaging data: flame centre temperature 752°C (highly consistent with literature)

V. Safety WarningThis article comes from: https://fireworkslit.com/Fireworkslit-https://fireworkslit.com/an-unexpected-discovery-in-chinese-alchemy-decoding-the-gunpowder-code-of-the-secret-of-the-golden-elixir-of-taishang-shengzu/

❗️ Special Reminder:

• There is a risk of spontaneous ignition of more than 30 per cent of the ancient book formulas (due to the formation of microcells from the deliquescence of sulphur and saltpeter).
• Recovery experiments must be carried out in an explosion-proof cabinet (refer to GB/T3836.14-2021 standard)
• Private preparation is suspected of violating Article 23 of the "Regulations on the Safe Management of Civil Explosive Substances".

VI. Extended Reflections

1. Implications of Alchemy's "Junshen Zuoji" Theory for Gunpowder Component Optimisation
2. Examination of the Saltpeter Trade Network on the Silk Road (Records of "Chinese Snow" in Arabic Literature)
3. Research on formula variations in 13th century European manuscripts (slow burning phenomenon caused by the addition of honey)

Next section preview: Section 1.2 will be an in-depth analysis of the military engineering breakthroughs in the three gunpowder ratios of the "General Principles of Martial Arts", and reveal the aerodynamic design in the "Poison Smoke Ball"...

(The experimental data in the text is quoted from the Journal of Fire and Explosives, No. 4, 2022. Photocopies of ancient books can be searched by visiting the Database of Good Ancient Books of the National Library.)