Wan Hu
Legendary Rocket Launch Attempt
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
China
TIME PERIOD
14th century
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
On an unspecified date in the early Ming dynasty, Wan Hu, a legendary Chinese official, attempted to launch himself into the sky using a chair equipped with 47 rockets, holding kites in each hand. This ambitious endeavor aimed to achieve human flight but ended tragically when the rockets exploded, resulting in his disappearance. While Wan Hu is often referred to as the first man to attempt space travel, historical evidence supporting this tale is scant, with some scholars suggesting it may have been fabricated during later periods. Currently, the story remains a part of folklore, with no confirmed resolution or evidence of Wan Hu's existence, though his name has been immortalized in the naming of a lunar crater by NASA.
The legend of Wan Hu suggests that he was the first person to attempt space travel using rockets, but the story lacks direct evidence and may have been invented during the Chinoiserie period. Some believe the tale could have originated from oral accounts by European missionaries or from lost ancient Chinese documents. Others, like Joseph Needham, argue that the story's historical validity is dubious.
The Tale of Wan Hu: The World's First Astronaut?
Introduction: A Dreamer from the Ming Dynasty
In the annals of history, few legends capture the imagination quite like that of Wan Hu, a Chinese official from the early Ming dynasty. Though shrouded in mystery, Wan Hu is often credited as the first human to dare the dream of space flight. His story, equal parts ambition and tragedy, has earned him posthumous fame, with NASA naming a crater on the Moon's far side in his honor.
Who Was Wan Hu?
The name Wan Hu, marked by the family name Wan, is legendary. Some speculate that his real name was Tao Chengdao, and "Wan Hu" might have been a title bestowed upon him by the imperial court. As a Ming official, he was deeply fascinated by the potential of technological advancements, particularly rockets. Tragically, it is said that his life ended in 1390.
Despite the legend's enduring appeal, no direct evidence confirms its authenticity. Historian Joseph Needham described the tale as dubious, possibly a product of later Chinoiserie fascination, lacking firm historical records. Yet, Li Chengzhi suggests that the story might have originated from European missionaries' oral traditions during the late Ming and Qing dynasties or from now-lost ancient Chinese records.
The Legend of Wan Hu
The Basic Story
The tale of Wan Hu is a story of ambition and folly. Determined to reach the heavens, Wan Hu supposedly devised a contraption involving a chair tied with 47 rockets and equipped with kites in each hand. Commanding his servants to ignite the fuses, Wan Hu's dream of flight was tragically cut short when the rockets exploded, leaving nothing but smoke and mystery in their wake.
Variations and Predecessors
The legend first surfaced in the Western world through John Elfreth Watkins, who penned an article in the October 2, 1909 issue of Scientific American. Watkins introduced a similar story, substituting the name "Wan Hu" with "Wang Tu" and dating the event to 2000 BCE, a time far before the advent of gunpowder. In this version, Wang Tu's attempt ended in a fiery explosion, angering the Emperor who ordered Wang Tu to be severely punished.
Herbert S. Zim's 1945 book "Rockets and Jets" further popularized the Wan Hu legend, describing it as an "oft-repeated tale of those early days." Wan Hu, in this narrative, utilized China's advanced rocket and fireworks technology to construct his chair. On the day of his audacious launch, dressed in his finest attire, Wan Hu's journey began with a thunderous explosion. When the smoke cleared, neither Wan Hu nor his chair remained.
In 2006, the United States House Committee on Appropriations recounted the legend, noting Wan Hu's attempt as an early, albeit fatal, endeavor in using rockets as a flight vehicle.
The Persistent Mystery
Walter Sierra acknowledges Wan Hu as a pioneer in attempting space flight, though Mark Williamson and many authorities consider the story apocryphal. Intriguingly, Chinese scholars argue that the tale's existence across multiple Western countries suggests it may have roots in real events, possibly transmitted by European missionaries or based on lost Chinese documents.
William E. Burrows speculated that if the event truly occurred, Wan Hu would hold the distinction of being the first human to ride a rocket, the first to fly a self-propelled device, and the first to perish in such an endeavor.
Wan Hu in Popular Culture
MythBusters and Modern Interpretations
In 2004, the television series MythBusters attempted to recreate Wan Hu's flight using period-appropriate materials. The result was catastrophic—the chair exploded on the launch pad, severely burning a crash test dummy. Even with modern rockets, the experiment proved uncontrollable, affirming the legend as "busted."
In Chinese Central Television's show Tiān Gōng Kāi Wù, Wan Hu's story was revisited, suggesting he managed to lift himself a mere foot off the ground. Most Chinese versions depict Wan Hu as an unfortunate pioneer, his dreams of space travel consumed by fire rather than fulfilled.
Cultural References
Wan Hu's tale has inspired various cultural works. The video game Jade Empire features a character named Cao Shong who meets a fiery end attempting a similar rocket-chair flight. Tokyo DisneySea's attraction Soaring: Fantastic Flight includes a painting of Wan Hu's legendary attempt, celebrating human flight's mythical history. Even the animated film Kung Fu Panda pays homage to the myth with the protagonist Po launching himself skyward with fireworks, inspired by the legendary Chinese official's dream of reaching the moon.
Conclusion
The legend of Wan Hu, the man who dared to dream of the stars, lives on as a testament to humanity's eternal quest for the unknown. Whether apocryphal or based in fact, his story continues to captivate those who gaze skyward, wondering about the infinite possibilities beyond our earthly bounds.
Sources
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On an unspecified date in the early Ming dynasty, Wan Hu, a legendary Chinese official, attempted to launch himself into the sky using a chair equipped with 47 rockets, holding kites in each hand. This ambitious endeavor aimed to achieve human flight but ended tragically when the rockets exploded, resulting in his disappearance. While Wan Hu is often referred to as the first man to attempt space travel, historical evidence supporting this tale is scant, with some scholars suggesting it may have been fabricated during later periods. Currently, the story remains a part of folklore, with no confirmed resolution or evidence of Wan Hu's existence, though his name has been immortalized in the naming of a lunar crater by NASA.
The legend of Wan Hu suggests that he was the first person to attempt space travel using rockets, but the story lacks direct evidence and may have been invented during the Chinoiserie period. Some believe the tale could have originated from oral accounts by European missionaries or from lost ancient Chinese documents. Others, like Joseph Needham, argue that the story's historical validity is dubious.
The Tale of Wan Hu: The World's First Astronaut?
Introduction: A Dreamer from the Ming Dynasty
In the annals of history, few legends capture the imagination quite like that of Wan Hu, a Chinese official from the early Ming dynasty. Though shrouded in mystery, Wan Hu is often credited as the first human to dare the dream of space flight. His story, equal parts ambition and tragedy, has earned him posthumous fame, with NASA naming a crater on the Moon's far side in his honor.
Who Was Wan Hu?
The name Wan Hu, marked by the family name Wan, is legendary. Some speculate that his real name was Tao Chengdao, and "Wan Hu" might have been a title bestowed upon him by the imperial court. As a Ming official, he was deeply fascinated by the potential of technological advancements, particularly rockets. Tragically, it is said that his life ended in 1390.
Despite the legend's enduring appeal, no direct evidence confirms its authenticity. Historian Joseph Needham described the tale as dubious, possibly a product of later Chinoiserie fascination, lacking firm historical records. Yet, Li Chengzhi suggests that the story might have originated from European missionaries' oral traditions during the late Ming and Qing dynasties or from now-lost ancient Chinese records.
The Legend of Wan Hu
The Basic Story
The tale of Wan Hu is a story of ambition and folly. Determined to reach the heavens, Wan Hu supposedly devised a contraption involving a chair tied with 47 rockets and equipped with kites in each hand. Commanding his servants to ignite the fuses, Wan Hu's dream of flight was tragically cut short when the rockets exploded, leaving nothing but smoke and mystery in their wake.
Variations and Predecessors
The legend first surfaced in the Western world through John Elfreth Watkins, who penned an article in the October 2, 1909 issue of Scientific American. Watkins introduced a similar story, substituting the name "Wan Hu" with "Wang Tu" and dating the event to 2000 BCE, a time far before the advent of gunpowder. In this version, Wang Tu's attempt ended in a fiery explosion, angering the Emperor who ordered Wang Tu to be severely punished.
Herbert S. Zim's 1945 book "Rockets and Jets" further popularized the Wan Hu legend, describing it as an "oft-repeated tale of those early days." Wan Hu, in this narrative, utilized China's advanced rocket and fireworks technology to construct his chair. On the day of his audacious launch, dressed in his finest attire, Wan Hu's journey began with a thunderous explosion. When the smoke cleared, neither Wan Hu nor his chair remained.
In 2006, the United States House Committee on Appropriations recounted the legend, noting Wan Hu's attempt as an early, albeit fatal, endeavor in using rockets as a flight vehicle.
The Persistent Mystery
Walter Sierra acknowledges Wan Hu as a pioneer in attempting space flight, though Mark Williamson and many authorities consider the story apocryphal. Intriguingly, Chinese scholars argue that the tale's existence across multiple Western countries suggests it may have roots in real events, possibly transmitted by European missionaries or based on lost Chinese documents.
William E. Burrows speculated that if the event truly occurred, Wan Hu would hold the distinction of being the first human to ride a rocket, the first to fly a self-propelled device, and the first to perish in such an endeavor.
Wan Hu in Popular Culture
MythBusters and Modern Interpretations
In 2004, the television series MythBusters attempted to recreate Wan Hu's flight using period-appropriate materials. The result was catastrophic—the chair exploded on the launch pad, severely burning a crash test dummy. Even with modern rockets, the experiment proved uncontrollable, affirming the legend as "busted."
In Chinese Central Television's show Tiān Gōng Kāi Wù, Wan Hu's story was revisited, suggesting he managed to lift himself a mere foot off the ground. Most Chinese versions depict Wan Hu as an unfortunate pioneer, his dreams of space travel consumed by fire rather than fulfilled.
Cultural References
Wan Hu's tale has inspired various cultural works. The video game Jade Empire features a character named Cao Shong who meets a fiery end attempting a similar rocket-chair flight. Tokyo DisneySea's attraction Soaring: Fantastic Flight includes a painting of Wan Hu's legendary attempt, celebrating human flight's mythical history. Even the animated film Kung Fu Panda pays homage to the myth with the protagonist Po launching himself skyward with fireworks, inspired by the legendary Chinese official's dream of reaching the moon.
Conclusion
The legend of Wan Hu, the man who dared to dream of the stars, lives on as a testament to humanity's eternal quest for the unknown. Whether apocryphal or based in fact, his story continues to captivate those who gaze skyward, wondering about the infinite possibilities beyond our earthly bounds.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...