In the book “Chronicles of the Trung Hung”, it is recorded: “A type of device resembling a large mast, over 60 zhang long, with a large stone on top, would launch stones at the ships of officials and smash them with bamboo sticks. The peasant soldiers called it ‘xà thuyền'”. So, who invented the “xà thuyền”?
Currently, there are two hypotheses:
– First Hypothesis: It was invented by Li Gao, the governor of the Eastern Dao region of Shennam. According to the “Old Dong Shu Li Gao” biography, it is stated: “Li Gao had once contemplated creating a warship with two wheels that could travel with the wind… known as the ‘Er Lun Warship'”. This refers to the xà thuyền, and it is believed that Li Gao was the one who designed it. In the third year of the Shaoheng era of the Southern Song Dynasty, Li Jiang’s “Jin Cheng” mentions: “Li Gao managed to create several warships with three tiers, equipped with wheels that skimmed over the waves, attracting crowds of onlookers.” Historical records also note: “Li Gao once lived in Jiangnan and during this time he invented the xà thuyền.” Therefore, it can be concluded that Li Gao created the xà thuyền, and not someone from the Tang Dynasty.
– Second Hypothesis: The xà thuyền was invented by Gao Yi, a scholar from the Southern Song’s Du Shui Jian Institute. The book “Legend of Yang Ma” states: “The envoy encountered a group of soldiers… it was Gao Yi – the one who presented the design of the xà thuyền… who built a large xà thuyền…” This story makes it clear that Gao Yi was the one who presented the design and constructed the xà thuyền, which was later seized by peasant soldiers from the imperial officials. The same book mentions: “By what means did they make the waters of the Chi River gradually recede, making the Chi River mouth very shallow, preventing the xà thuyền from passing through? The bandits rushed into the gate of Dam Thong Che and set fire to it, but the xà thuyền did not burn and fell into the hands of the bandits.”
So, who is the true inventor of the xà thuyền? This is a question that historians must diligently research and gather more information to arrive at an accurate conclusion.