Triton 8" Kamuro Chry To White Twinkling Chrys With Variegated Swimming Pistil

Chemistry of the Triton 8" Kamuro

Gunpowder is the key ingredient of Kamuro firework and its explosive power is directly attributed to the powerful mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulphur. Saltpeter is known chemically as potassium nitrate, a salt mineral commonly used in fertilizers and cooking, this provides oxygen for ignition. Charcoal and sulfur are used for fuel, charcoal is organic material that has been burned in a low oxygen environment and sulfur is an elemental mineral that lowers the temperature for ignition of the mixture. Combined, the mixture is easily combustible and thus is regarded as being highly dangerous around open flame or sources of heat. The burning of gunpowder produces a residue of potassium sulfide, commonly known as ash, and gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

The chemical equation for the combustion of gunpowder is

2 KNO3 + S + 3 C = K2S + N2 + 3 CO2

Otherwise known as

Saltpeter + Sulfur + Charcoal = Ash + Nitrogen gas + Carbon dioxide

Inside the Triton 8" Kamuro Chry To White Twinkling Chrys With Variegated Swimming Pistil are pyrotechnic stars. Pyrotechnic stars are small objects within the shells varying to create different effects after the shell has burst in the air. Stars can be formed from different mixtures in different shapes, another method of forming stars is by coating things like lead shot or seeds in different flammable mixtures to create different effects. The chemistry between each kind of star varies by the layering of materials and mixing of elements and compounds although a common burning ingredient is often gunpowder.

Evolution of the Kamuro over time

Kamuro is a japanese word which refers to the pupil and assistant of a courtesan.. However, in pyrotechnics it is said to be a japanese reference to long hair, like a bowl haircut. A possible connection between the kamuro and the boy's haircut is in the religious archetype of "Divine Boy" in Japanese Art. The boy was described as having feminine features such as the lustrous and shoulder length hair of a Kamuro.

Boy's Haircut Kamuro Firework

The first evidence of fire used for "special effects" dates to around the 7th century when Greeks used petroleum and naphtha as a primitive form of napalm in their military endeavors. This was "Greek fire". There are different legends as to the invention of black powder, and fireworks, but it is mostly agreed that explosive mixtures of saltpeter, coal and sulfur were discovered in China during the Southern Sung Dynasty (1127-1279). Saltpeter itself had been discovered shortly beforehand by Chinese alchemists seeking recipes that would grant immortality. These early fireworks which were more like modern firecrackers were used for entertainment, in spriritual rituals as well as in warfare in the form of rocket propelled arrows. Some sources claim that the Mongols spread the use of black powder to Europe by 1241 while others claim it was via the the Arab kingdom.

Greek Fire Primitive Rockets

The first mention of fireworks in Europe was in the Liber ignium ad comburendos hostes(Book of Fires for Burning Enemies), which is believed to have been written in Greek between the eighth century to 13th century depending on the source.. This text already made mention of black powder and primitive rockets. The writtings of Roger Bacon, who was attributed the invention of gunpowder, made reference to the earliest use of black powder in Latin Europe where even children played with firecrackers.

In China, various additions such as lotus juice, vegetable oil, shreds of cotton, copper and powdered iron were made to produce faster or slower reactions, violet or green light and sparkling stars respectively. These methods were recorded before the 18th century. It was not until the 19th century that salt metals were added to fireworks to give different colors and levels of brightness to the explosives.

The Italians are given credit for popularizing fireworks as entertainment in Europe, and as demand grew, companies which specialized in the manufacture of fireworks arose. The rising popularity of fireworks fueled the development of the more complex and impressive types we see today such as the Kamuro.

Origins of the Components of a Kamuro Firework

The components that make up the Kamuro firework, as well as all fireworks, are gunpowder, metal powders and salts. Gunpowder is composed of saltpeter, charcoal and sulfur. The discovery of gunpowder has been credited to the Chinese, but the limited access to primary sources makes it very difficult to determine a year. As it was not used in the beginning for guns, the Chinese referred to it as black powder. Some claim that black powder was invented “at least as far back as the first century B.C.,” while others believe that it occurred approximately around A.D. 1000. Kenneth Chase writes in his book, Firearms: A Global History to 1700, that “the earliest known formula for gunpowder can be found in a Chinese work dating probably from the 800s.” Regardless of when it was invented, black powder’s three components, saltpeter, charcoal and sulfur, were also used by the Chinese before they combined them to make black powder. The history of charcoal is a bit difficult to determine as its first known date has been set by radiocarbon dating. The first use of charcoal was in cave paintings in the Chauvet Cave in France which “have been dated as early as 30,000 years BC.” The discoveries of sulfur and saltpeter have been attributed to the Chinese as well. Sulfur, also known as brimstone, was found in Hanzhong, China “at least as early as the third century A.D.” Saltpeter was first noted in a “Chinese alchemical text from 492” and it is the “critical ingredient for dating the discovery of gunpowder.”

The other component of a Kamuro firework is pyrotechnic stars. These stars are made of metal powders and salts and their origins are also attributed to the time when gunpowder was developed by the Chinese. For all these components of the Kamuro firework, more sources are needed to determine the true time and place they originated.

The invention of fireworks goes hand and hand with the invention of black powder. Black powder was, of course, the key ingredient in the original fireworks. The most primitive design of the firework consists solely of bamboo tubes and gunpowder. Marco Polo is often attributed with the discovery of black powder whilst on an expedition to China. He brought the black powder back with him to Europe where it was commonly used as gunpowder for such military devices as guns and cannons. Popular legend has it that a Chinese chef discovered the pivotal combination of ingredients (sulphur, charcoal and saltpeter) for the firework completely unintentionally.

14th Century European Adaptation of Historic Kamuro, Firework Technology

Firework's influence upon the Renaissance Period in Europe, the Church

As previously stated, China has been academically accredited to the discovery and initial use of black powder and radical fireworks by the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) for both recreational and militant use. The militant use of these primitive fireworks and even more primitive rockets lacked overall effectiveness, but with the creation of gunpowder vs. black powder, the full potential of powered projectiles was tapped, giving birth to new age ballistic weaponry; guns. Despite fireworks' militant handicap, their recreational use ceased to slow, and for centuries continued to prove to be not only a lucrative business, but also an excellent, ancient form of entertainment for both the masses and few. The Chinese maintained their use of primitive fireworks, with basic powered arrows comparable to bottle rockets, perhaps the most basic firework today, though it can vary in size and strength. Similarly, these basic fireworks were introduced to Europe around 1241 and used regularly for festive events with the first record dating to 1258 ¹⁸. As popularity and demand for fireworks rapidly grew through out Europe, the technology attracted the attention of both many academics and 'gunners' or 'fireworkers'¹⁸; skilled artisans involved with the business of shot and gunpowder. The 14th century gave way to an incredible academic and cultural resurrection known as the Renaissance period, further boosting the interest of pyrotechnics, academically, ergo two notable schools of pyrotechnic curriculum were established; one in Nuremberg, Germany, the other in Rome, Italy. The school in Germany sought scientific advancement while the school in Italy emphasized the advancement of elaborate and aesthetically dumbfounding fireworks¹⁸.

Maintaining the core components and structural design of the original Kamuro firework, the Italian school of pyrotechnics was able to greatly alter and enhance the visuals through means of academic research and development with contributory works of such notable metal workers, gunners and intellectuals as Vannoccio Biringuccio and Francis Malthus¹⁹. The headway of firework visuals aided in providing even more dramatic theatrical and festive scenes, where places such as Florence, Vienna, Siena, and Rome would host magnificent shows, lighting up the entire city and night sky, leaving the surrounding launch site thick with smoke²⁰. The popularity and seemingly daily advancement in firework visual technology caused a rapid spread of recreational use and cultural trends throughout Europe; France, Spain, Portugal, England, ect, even further adapting to each new culture and slightly different religious views, such as France's trend to launch the fireworks from within artificial castles and temples¹⁹. The pyrotechnic school in Italy was even able to create various explosive shapes, such as the cross and primitive representations of assorted papal coat of arms. As a consequence, fireworks became religious acts, used by the Popes and other important papal officials to invigorate fear, power, strength, awe, and pleasure in an audience composed of both believers and nonbelievers ²⁰. This was a key factor of the church's ability to further their control and display of wealth to all peoples, faithful or not.

Global Integration of Fireworks into Cultures

The initial use of fireworks by the Chinese was to ward off evil spirits with the loud noise. However, fireworks have been incorporated into many cultures around the world, and have been used in countless ceremonial events as a sign of celebration. As fireworks developed over the years they became more elaborate and colourful, an example of which is the Triton 8” Kamuro.

Some of the more notable events in which fireworks highlight the celebration are:

- Independence Day, Celebrating the July 4th Declaration of Independence in the United States of America. Fireworks have been used in this American celebration since its inaugural year in 1777 and continues to mark the occasion to this day.

- Guy Fawkes Night, Celebrated throughout Great Britain for the attempted destruction of London’s House of Parliament in 1605.

- New Year’s, Fireworks are used annually in cities throughout the world to celebrate the beginning of a New Year.

- Festival of Lights (Diwali), Fireworks are a major part of this Hinduism festival. Diwali takes place over 5 days which sees the practice of fireworks as a sign of significane in the Hindu calendar.

- Canada’s biggest day for fireworks is Victoria Day, which takes place every year on May 24th. Fireworks help honour the birthday of Queen Victoria and Canada's sovereignty.

Fireworks are now a common site at celebratory festivals throughout the world. They began as nothing more than a simple mixture of ingredients into a small bamboo tube, and have evolved into massive spectacles of colour, sound and duration. Although no exact date can be found, fireworks have surely been used to entertain and mark occasions for many centuries. The use of fireworks and gunpowder began as a military tool, yet quickly its use became more recreational and ceremonial.

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