Fuxi’s hexagram used water to overcome fire. How did ancient firefighting continue to develop?

In 685 BC, Duke Heng of Qi, the leader of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, appointed Guan Zhong as prime minister. He put firefighting work first. In 524 BC, Zichan, the governor of the State of Zheng, said a famous saying that was passed down to future generations, "Heaven is far away, but humanity is short." That is, when a fire comes, active prevention and rescue are the true humanity.

In 468 BC, Mozi, the founder of the Mohist school, was born in Luyang. It is said that Mozi was the man who founded the military academy early in Chinese history. When the Chu State was preparing to attack the Song State, Mozi asked his disciples: He taught many ways to use fire for defense and offense, and applied many fire-fighting measures. Later, Mozi wrote these fire-fighting practices, fire prevention and control ideas into the book "Mozi", and clarified many fire-fighting laws.

The historical book "Zuo Zhuan" records a fire in the Song Dynasty. The article describes a complete set of methods for preventing and extinguishing fires. It is recognized as the earliest, most detailed and complete fire protection document in Chinese history. In 492 BC, Ji Hengzi, a doctor of the State of Lu, ordered at the scene of a fire, "Fire-fighters should stop injuring people and save money." This means that if property is burned, it can be re-created, but if people are harmed, they cannot make up for it.

In 406 BC, Wei Wenhou, the king of Wei, appointed Li Kui, a great legal scholar, as his prime minister. He carried out reforms in Wei, known as Li Kui's reforms in history, and compiled and formulated the book "Dharma Scripture". It is the first relatively systematic feudal code in Chinese history, which contains ten codes related to fire protection.

In 362 BC, Duke Xiao of Qin succeeded to the throne and issued an order to seek talents in the world. Li Kui’s student Shang Yang came with the Book of Laws. Three years later, he revised the Laws of Qin and presided over the reform. Among them Mention again the Shang Dynasty fire protection prohibition of "leaving ashes to justice". Duting was established in the Han Dynasty, which was responsible for public security management and also had the function of fire prevention and fire fighting. In addition, fire watchtowers appeared in cities in the Han Dynasty to watch fires, with a built-in alarm drum and a ribbon flag hung on the top of the building as a weather mark.

Professional fire-fighting teams also appeared in the Han Dynasty, which can be said to be the earliest fire brigade in Chinese history. The Tang Dynasty promulgated the most complete fire code in ancient China, the "Yonghui Law", and widely used fire-fighting tools such as leather bags and splash tubes.

In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the Taoist master known as "Ancestor Chen Tuan" appeared on the scene. Before his death, he sealed a note to Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty - "Be careful with fire and stop water." Use fire carefully and prevent fire. , stagnant water stores water to put out fires. In 1015 AD, after the fire in Prince Rong's Mansion, "be careful with fire, stop water, and be prepared for emergencies" became the national fire protection policy of the Northern Song Dynasty, and military academies at all levels were required to widely publicize it. The words "be careful with fire, stop water," were posted on the doors of all military academies in the Northern Song Dynasty. It became the source of fire prevention slogans in ancient China.