GGHS 최민○

2018 Personal Essay

2018 GGHS Team 2

The chemistry of Goryeo dynasty

I got to know this camp through my friend and participated in it. I wanted to know more about Goryeo through the global camp and spend my summer vacation more meaningful through this camp. As this camp is the global camp, I should talk with English and discuss in English. I think I can improve my English skill a little. The reason why I chose this subject was because I thought it would help me in my career and I wanted to learn more about the gunpowder that Choi Mu-seon invented. While I had a research through this topic, I know that Choi Mu-seon invented the method of making gunpowder, and that some kind of a gunpowder weapon include Juhwa and cannon. At first, that gunpowder was invented in China, and the technology was introduced to Europe. What we learned from studying the data is that the materials used to make gunpowder were potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal, and the origin of the gunpowder was from Chinese alchemy. Chinese alchemists found that there would be an explosion if they combine potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal in the process of making the perennial youth and long life powder. They didn't realize at the time that it was a mix of gunpowder, but they found out about the replacement of the Tang and the Song. By searching with my team members, I found that there was quite a lot of information about gunpowder and how difficult it was to make gunpowder made by Choi Mu-seon. In my group, I researched and arranged the history of gunpowder and gunpowder weapons and also, I translated the contents into English. Through this camp, I learned how to use a new program that I couldn't learn before, and learned more about Goryeo's gunpowder. I think it was a good activity to spend this summer vacation more effectively.