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Smoke signal
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{{Short description|Smoke used as a mode of communication}} {{redirect|Fire signal|the beacon|Beacon (fire signal)}} {{Other uses}} [[File:The Smoke Signal, 1905, by Frederic S. Remington.jpg|thumb|A painting of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] using a smoke signal by [[Frederic Remington]]]] The '''smoke signal''' is one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication. It is a form of [[visual communication]] used over a long distance. In general smoke signals are used to transmit news, signal danger, or to gather people to a common area. ==History and usage== In [[History of China#Ancient China|ancient China]], soldiers along the [[Great Wall]] sent smoke signals on its [[beacon]] towers to warn one another of enemy invasion.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Ivan|first=Djordjevic|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/699999686|title=Coding for Optical Channels.|date=2010|publisher=Springer US|isbn=978-1-4419-5569-2|pages=2|oclc=699999686}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last1=Du|first1=Yumin|last2=Chen|first2=Wenwu|last3=Cui|first3=Kai|last4=Guo|first4=Zhiqian|last5=Wu|first5=Guopeng|last6=Ren|first6=Xiaofeng|date=2021-02-16|title=An exploration of the military defense system of the Ming Great Wall in Qinghai Province from the perspective of castle-based military settlements|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12520-021-01283-7|journal=Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences|volume=13|issue=3|page=46 |doi=10.1007/s12520-021-01283-7|bibcode=2021ArAnS..13...46D |s2cid=231940516|issn=1866-9557|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The colour of the smoke communicated the size of the invading party.<ref name=":4" /> By placing the beacon towers at regular intervals, and situating a soldier in each tower, messages could be transmitted over the entire 7,300 kilometres of the Wall.<ref name=":4" /> Smoke signals also warned the inner castles of the invasion, allowing them to coordinate a defense and garrison supporting troops.<ref name=":5" /> Misuse of the smoke signal is traditionally considered to have contributed to the fall of the [[Western Zhou dynasty]] in the 8th century [[BCE]]. [[King You of Zhou]] was said to have had a habit of fooling his warlords with false warning beacons to amuse [[Bao Si]], his concubine.<ref>{{cite book |author=Sima Qian |author-link=Sima Qian |title=[[Records of the Grand Historian]]|volume=4}}</ref> During [[Sri Lanka]]'s [[Kandyan period]], soldiers stationed on the mountain peaks alerted each other of impending enemy attack (from [[English people|English]], [[Dutch people|Dutch]] or [[Portuguese people]]) by signaling from peak to peak. In this way, they could transmit a message to the King in just a few hours.<ref name="Kandy 1681/2004">{{Gutenberg |no=14346 |bullet=none |last=Knox |first=Robert |title=An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous Escape |publisher=Project Gutenberg |year=2004 |orig-year=1681 |oclc=703947445}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}} [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas#North America|North American indigenous peoples]] also communicated via smoke signal. Each [[tribe]] had its own signaling system and understanding. A signaler started a fire on an elevation typically using damp grass, which caused a column of smoke to rise. The grass was taken off as it dried and another bundle was placed on the fire. Reputedly the location of the smoke along the incline conveyed a meaning. If it came from halfway up the hill, it signaled that all was well; but from the top of the hill, it signified danger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Smoke Signal |url=https://addpmp.slamjam.com/index/smoke-signal |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=addpmp.slamjam.com |language=en}}</ref> Colored [[smoke grenade]]s are commonly used by military forces to mark positions, especially during calls for artillery or air support. Smoke signals may also refer to smoke-producing devices used to send [[distress signal]]s.<ref>{{Citation|title=Pyrotechnic device|date=Feb 4, 1964|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US3120183|issue=US3120183 A|access-date=2017-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Smoke signal|date=Nov 28, 1967|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US3354829|issue=US3354829 A|access-date=2017-02-01}}</ref> ==Examples== ===The Catholic Church=== SInce the 19th century the [[College of Cardinals]] [[Papal_conclave#Fumata|has used smoke signals]] to indicate the taking of a vote during a [[papal conclave]]. Eligible cardinals conduct a [[secret ballot]] until a Papal candidate receives a vote of two-thirds plus one. The ballots are burned after each vote; since 1914 black smoke has indicated a failed ballot, and white smoke means a new Pope has been elected. ===Native Americans=== Lewis and Clark's journals cite several occasions when they adopted the Native American method of setting the plains on fire to communicate the presence of their party or their desire to meet with local tribes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=1805-07-20.xml&_xslsrc=LCstyles.xsl |title=Lewis and Clark Journals, July 20, 1805}}</ref> ====Yámana==== [[Yamana people|Yámanas]] of [[South America]] used fire to send messages by smoke signals, for instance if a whale drifted ashore.<ref>Gusinde 1966:137–139, 186</ref> The large amount of meat required notification of many people so that it would not be wasted.<ref>Itsz 1979:109</ref> They might also have used smoke signals on other occasions—thus it is possible that Magellan saw such fires and was inspired to name the landscape [[Tierra del Fuego]] ("Land of Fire"); however, he may have seen the smoke or lights of natural phenomena.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pages.interlog.com/~erhard/uttermos.htm |title=The Patagonian Canoe |publisher=Pages.interlog.com |access-date=2013-02-19}}</ref><ref>Extracts from the following book. E. Lucas Bridges: ''Uttermost Part of the Earth. Indians of Tierra del Fuego.'' 1949, reprinted by Dover Publications, Inc (New York, 1988).</ref> ===Noon Gun === The [[Cape Town]] [[Noon Gun#Time signalling|Noon Gun]], specifically the smoke its firing generates, was used to set [[marine chronometer]]s in [[Table Bay]]. ===Aboriginal Australians=== [[Aboriginal Australians]] throughout Australia have used smoke signals for various purposes—<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=The Red Chief|last=Idriess|first=Ion L|publisher=ettimprint|year=1953}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Over the Range|last=Idriess|first=Ion L|publisher=ettimprint|year=1937}}</ref> sometimes to notify others of their presence, particularly when entering lands which were not their own.<ref name=":0">Myers, 1986: 100</ref> Sometimes used to describe visiting Whites, smoke signals were the fastest way to send messages.<ref name=":3" /> Smoke signals were sometimes used to notify of incursions by hostile tribes, or to arrange meetings between hunting parties of the same tribe. This signal could be from a fixed lookout on a ridge or from a mobile band of tribesman.<ref name=":2" /> "Putting up a smoke" often promoted nearby individuals or groups to reply with their own signals.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Report on Patrol to Lake Mackay Area June/July 1957|url=http://www.cifhs.com/|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=2014-01-31}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Different colours of smoke (black, white or blue, depending on whether the material being burnt was wet grass, dry grass, reeds or other materials) were used to convert information, as was the smoke's shape (a column, ball or ring), allowing a messaging system sophisticated enough to include the names of individual tribesmen.<ref name=":2" /> Like other means of communication, signals could be misinterpreted. In one recorded instance, a smoke signal reply translated as "we are coming" was misinterpreted as joining a war party for protection of the tribe, when it was actually to indicate hunting parties coming together after a successful hunt.<ref name=":2" /> === [[Goryeo]] and [[Joseon]] === The [[beacon]] fire signal system (bongsu, 봉수, 烽燧) was formally institutionalized during the early [[Goryeo]] period in 1149 (the 3rd year of King [[Uijong of Goryeo|Uijong’s reign]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=봉수 |url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?docId=577122&cid=46633&categoryId=46633 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=terms.naver.com |language=ko}}</ref> According to historical records, it was enacted by [[royal decree]] following a memorial submitted by Jo Jin-yak (曺晋若), the Military Commissioner of the Northwestern Region (Seobukmyeon Byeongmasa, 西北面兵馬使). Under this system, signals were sent using smoke during the day and fire at night.<ref>{{Cite web |title=봉수 - 디지털김천문화대전 |url=https://gimcheon.grandculture.net/gimcheon/toc/GC03200634 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=gimcheon.grandculture.net}}</ref> The method of bongsu involved using fire at night and smoke during the day. The signaling system followed a five-tiered structure: one [[torch]] (geo, 炬) was lit in times of peace; two when enemy ships were spotted at sea; three when they approached the coast; four when they engaged with Korean naval forces; and five when enemy troops landed on shore. These signals were immediately reported by local commanders(ojang, 오장, 五將) to regional governors. In the capital, the Ministry of War (Byeongjo, 병조, 兵曹) monitored the beacons and reported the situation to the Royal Secretariat (Seungjeongwon, 승정원, 承政院), which then informed the king.<ref>{{Cite web |last=문화관광 |first=창원시 |title=창원시 문화관광 |url=https://culture.changwon.go.kr/index.changwon?bbsId=BBSMSTR_000000000051&contentId=379&menuNo=15040000&nttId=619&upperMenuId=15040000 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=new.changwon.go.kr |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=봉수 |url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?docId=3571693&cid=58940&categoryId=58956 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=terms.naver.com |language=ko}}</ref> ===Aviation=== Modern [[aviation]] has made [[skywriting]] possible. == See also == * [[Polybius square]] * [[Optical telegraph]] ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==References== * {{cite book |last=Gusinde |first=Martin |title=Nordwind—Südwind. Mythen und Märchen der Feuerlandindianer |publisher=E. Röth |location=Kassel |year=1966 |language=de}} * {{cite book |last=Itsz |first=Rudolf |title=Napköve. Néprajzi elbeszélések |chapter=A kihunyt tüzek földje |pages=93–112 |publisher=Móra Könyvkiadó |location=Budapest |year=1979 |language=hu}} Translation of the original: {{cite book |first=Р.Ф. |last=Итс |script-title=ru:Камень солнца |publisher= [[Detskaya Literatura]] |location=Ленинград |year=1974 |language=ru}} Title means: “Stone of sun”; chapter means: “The land of burnt-out fires”. (Leningrad: "Children's Literature" Publishing.) * {{cite book |last=Myers |first=Fred |title=Pintupi Country, Pintupi Self |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |year=1986 |location=USA }} == External links == {{Wiktionary}} {{Telecommunications}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Smoke Signal}} [[Category:History of telecommunications]] [[Category:Ancient China]] [[Category:Native American culture]] [[Category:Native American history]] [[Category:Smoke]] [[Category:Optical communications]] [[Category:Semaphore]]
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