Ming Dynasty arquebus found in Xuzhou.

Early Matchlock

Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士禎) was the only Chinese firearm specialist to further differentiate between a Portuguese matchlock gun manufactured at the armoury of Goa and a Japanese copy of the same design. He named the Portuguese design Xiao Xi Yang Chong (小西洋銃, 'Small Western arquebus') to avoid confusion with Xi Yang Chong (see below), another European matchlock design. Despite both designs being nearly indetical, Zhao Shi Zhen deemed Portuguese matchlock to be the superior one due to its simplicity and convenience.


Further Improvement
During the reign of Emperor Shenzong (明神宗, reigned 1572 - 1620 AD), the Ming Empire found itself embroiled in three different wars (the Imjin war, war of Ningxia, and the Yang Ying Long rebellion), another border conflicts with Burmese Taungoo Dynasty, as well as increasingly dire threat from the Jurchen. Around this time Chinese began experimenting with imported matchlock firearms from other parts of the world, no doubt motivated by the pressing needs to improve the performance of Ming arquebusiers.

Xi Yang Chong (西洋銃, lit. 'Western arquebus') or Da Xi Yang Chong (大西洋銃, lit. 'Big Western arquebus')

Drawing of a Xi Yang Chong, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Xi Yang Chong is the Chinese name for European matchlock. It is characterised by its sear lock matchlock mechanism, backward-dipping serpentine (contrasted with Portuguese/Japanese snap matchlock, which has forward-dipping serpentine) as well as the long squeeze bar. Xi Yang Chong model designed by Zhao Shi Zhen also includes a detachable forward grip known as Tuo Shou (托手).

Zhao Shi Zhen seems to haved conducted his experiment on a lighter model, perhaps a caliver or petronel, and came to the conclusion that European matchlock is light and mobile, more reliable, and shoot farther than Japanese matchlock, but less powerful than Lu Mi Chong.


Lu Mi Chong (魯密銃, lit. 'Rûm arquebus')

Drawing of a Lu Mi Chong, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Lu Mi Chong was introduced to China through a Turkish emissary known to the Chinese as Duo Si Ma (朵思麻). It is based on the design of Turkish fitilli tüfek, and features the same modified serpentine lock mechanism and knob-shaped trigger as its Turkish counterpart. Zhao Shi Zhen also added a sharpened blade to the stock of the gun so that it can double as close combat weapon should the need arise.

Zhao Shi Zhen praised Lu Mi Chong for its reliability, range and firepower, which he deemed superior to both European and Japanese matchlock. Due to the increased weight and bulk of Lu Mi Chong, it was usually fired from a kneeling position.


Both Xi Yang Chong and Lu Mi Chong were eventually adopted by the Ming army. After the fall of Ming Dynasty, its successor Qing Dynasty seems to prefer the design of Lu Mi Chong over other variants, and European and Japanese matchlock became less common.


Late Ming period Lu Mi Chong

Late Ming version of the Lu Mi Chong, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Although also called Lu Mi Chong, this matchlock arquebus features a completely different matchlock mechanism than its Turkish predecessor. The new mechanism, seemingly based on rack and pinion principle, is an indigenous Chinese design.

Drawing of the rack and pinion mechanism, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

San Chang Chong (三長銃, lit. 'Arquebus with three advantages')

Drawing of a San Chang Chong, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

San Chang Chong is an indigenous innovation created by Zhao Shi Zhen that combines the advantages of Japanese, European and Turkish matchlock into one compact arquebus. It features a stock similar to Japanese matchlock, already familiar to most Ming troops, as well as the matchlock mechanism and long barrel from Turkish matchlock to increase reliability, speed and firepower. Zhao Shi Zhen also intentionally lighten the arquebus so that it can be fired from standing position, similar to European matchlock. Like Xuan Yuan Chong (軒轅銃) and He Ji Chong (合機銃), its matchlock mechanism is connected to flash pan cover so that the cover opens automatically whenever the trigger is pulled.

San Chang Chong is likely the only ordinary arquebus developed by Zhao Shi Zhen. He also tried to devise multiple barrel arquebuses, weatherproofed firearms and breechloaders, with varying degree of success.


Ban Gou Chong (搬鉤銃)

Drawing of a heavy musket, from 'Jing Guo Xiong Lue (《經國雄略》)'.

Ban Gou Chong, or heavy musket, was probably adopted from the Dutch. Chinese were only able to manufacture this potent weapon in Guangdong and Macau, and only in limited numbers. Nevertheless, while Ming army only used musket sporadically, Chinese trader-smugglers and pirates of the South China Sea such as the dreaded Koxinga, were more accustomed in its use.

Musket was also called Ban Jiu Jiao Chong (斑鳩腳銃, lit. 'Wild pigeon leg musket'), owing to the fact that when put on a musket rest, a musket looks superficially like a pigeon sleeping on one leg.

Another weapon called Da Niao Chong (大鳥銃, lit. "big arquebus") may or may not refer to the same weapon.


Jiao Chong (交銃, lit. 'Jiaozhi Arquebus')

Drawing of a Jiao Qiang, from 'Huang Chao Li Qi Tu Shi (《皇朝禮器圖式》)'. Note that despite its name, this Qing period Jiao Qiang shows clear Central Asian influence, rather than Vietnamese.

Also known as Zua Wa Chong (爪哇銃, Java arquebus), Vietnamese matchlock entered Chinese arsenal during the last years of the Ming Dynasty through border conflicts between the dying Later Mạc dynasty and local Tu Si (土司, government-sanctioned native chieftain) of Guangxi and Yunnan provinces. Ethnic minority troops such as Lang Bing (狼兵) were among the first to pick up this fearsome weapon. The rest of Ming armies, Chinese rebels, and Manchu Qing Dynasty quickly followed suit, and Vietnamese matchlock became the most common handheld firearm during Ming-Qing transition period.

Vietnamese matchlock gun enjoyed a very high reputation during seventeenth century among not just the Chinese, but also European observers (witnessing the ongoing Trịnh–Nguyễn War) as well. Ming Chinese considered Vietnamese matchlock to be "the finest gun in the world", surpassing even Turkish matchlock. It was said to be able to pierce several layers of iron armour, kill two to five men in one shot, yet can fire its shot quietly.


Jiu Tou Niao (九頭鳥, lit. 'Nine headed bird')

A gunner firing a Jiu Tou Niao from the shoulder of his comrade, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Also known as Jingal gun, this heavy matchlock rampart gun is closer to a light artillery piece than a musket. Ming army only deployed this potent weapon in limited numbers.


Shortcomings
While Chinese of this period were quick to adopt and even improve upon new firearm technologies, they never managed to catch up with major European powers. Worse yet, because of rampant corruption and general incompetence of the Imperial throne, they were reluctant to phase out their own obsolete firearms, resulting in severe waste of military spending.