dᵻskɹˈaɪbd ɪn nˈaɪnθsˈɛntʃɚɹi tˈɛksts ænd jˈuːzd ɪn fˈaɪɚwɜːks ɪn tʃˈaɪnə baɪ ðə tˈɛnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, ɪt wʌz jˈuːzd ɪn kˈænənz baɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti.
Described in 9th-century texts and used in fireworks in China by the 10th century, it was used in cannons by 1290.