Fire arrow

Cover it with a piece of hemp cloth tightly tied, and sealed fast with molten pine resin.

However unlike Greek fire, gunpowder's physical properties are solid rather than liquid, which makes it easier to store and load.

[7] In 975, the state of Wuyue sent to the Song dynasty a unit of soldiers skilled in the handling of fire arrows.

[8] Published in 1044, the Wujing Zongyao, or Complete Compendium of Military Classics, states that in 994 the city of Zitong was attacked by a Liao army of 100,000 men who were driven back by regular war machines and fire arrows.

[10] On March 1, 1126, the Song general Li Gang used a fire arrow machine known as the Thunderbolt thrower during the Jingkang Incident.

[13] In 1161, the general Yu Yunwen used fire arrows at the Battle of Caishi, near present-day Ma'anshan, during a Jin maritime incursion.

The Japanese pirates (wokou, also known as wako or kaizoku) in the 16th century were reported to have used the bo hiya which had the appearance of a large arrow.

[24] According to Stephen G. Haw, there is only slight evidence that rockets existed prior to 1200 and it is more likely they were not produced or used for warfare until the latter half of the 13th century.

An arrow strapped with gunpowder ready to be shot from a bow. From the Huolongjing
Depiction of rocket arrows, from the Huolongjing . The right arrow reads 'fire arrow', the middle is an 'arrow frame in the shape of a dragon' and the left is a 'complete fire arrow'.
Arabic illustration showing a gunpowder arrow on the left, fireworks in the middle, and a midfa (fire lance or hand cannon) on the right, from Rzevuski MS, c. 1320-1350 [ 6 ]
Two fire arrows (crossbow bolts). Southern Germany, ca. 15th century, with preserved incendiary mixture of charcoal, sulphur, saltpeter and textile on the shaft.