-Houchong cannon dating back to the Chinese Song Dynasty The history of cannons spans over serval hundred years, Ctesibius of Alexandria invented the earliest known cannon in the third century but his work were lost in history. The Philo of Byzantium noted that his primitive invention used a form of compressed air to operate.The Chinese were the first to use gunpowder artillery in the early 1100's. The first documented battle using houchongs was in January 28, 1132. Song General Han Shizhong used them to capture a Fuijian city. The first houchongs were constructed out of bamboo but later the bamboo was replaced with bronze in the 13th and 14th centurys. This early form of gunpowder artillary weapon is known by many as the first cannon dating back to 1298.
