Korea's Unique, One of a Kind's

Koreans were resourceful, and from the weapons they create to combat their enemies, there is no doubting it. Although these weapons never existed in Europe or America according to records, I believe that the Hwacha and Gum-cha deserves their own short segment.

The first weapon which was creatively engineered to utilized the sloped terrains of the Korean landscape was the Gum-cha or the (sworded-carts).

The weaponized carts were created by Koryo, Korea around 1010 under the rule of King Hyunjong to combat the Khitan invaders, utilized by general Kangjo, of the Koryo army. The carts created an important strategy to combat: weakening the enemy formations before a soldier-to-soldier engagement. The key to the carts were surprise and gravity. What Kangjo often did was before a full engagement against enemy troops, he would position his soldiers atop a hill while concealing several dozen carts among the formations of his men. Once the enemy decided to make the first move by charging, that was when the carts revealed itself and rushed toward the vulnerable enemies. 

The design was as simple as its method of use. The only item that proved to be crucial when designing this weapon was a stable, sturdy cart capable of carrying about dozen spears or pikes, a shield to keep the weapons stable and pointed towards the enemy, and reasonable weight distribution to keep the cart rolling in a straight line. The biggest challenge for developers was an easy, time saving method to keep the cart stable when moving. 

The answer was: more wheels, which proved to spread the weight of the cart more equally, thus keeping the direction of motion in one direction rather than shifting back and forth as the cart struggled to find the cart's center of gravity as it sped downhills.

The Gum-cha also had a sister weapon which used arrows and rockets mostly to inflict fear rather than casualties in psychological warfare. Hwacha's (arrow carts) were also common weapons used by the land troops before engaging a large army. 

Each cart carried about 100 to 200 arrows each strapped to a small firework rocket connected to a universal fuse which could propel an arrow out to about 200-400 feet. The arrows were designed to be twice the length of an average arrow and a relatively average sized arrowhead to keep the arrow the arrow stable while airborne and eventually land with its arrow-tip downward where the enemy would be.

However, rather than relying on the casualties the arrows would inflict upon the enemy- which with small amounts of arrows often penetrated through the enemy- the cart was built to produce a sight of awe in order to temporarily disorientate the enemy before a frontal engagement. In the end, victories were always determined by numbers, morale, and skill of arms.

Although these carts never paved a path for better, more reliable weapons of fear and surprise, they were indeed creative and got the job done. Since the carts are declared to be used by Koryo, it is reasonable to assume that Koryo was able to keep its dynasties and defend its land for such a long time partially through creative ingenuity.