Great Ming Military: November 2015

30 November 2015

Guo Xing Ping (國姓瓶)

A Guo Xing Ping, National Museum of China.

Huo Jian Dao Liu Xing (火箭刀溜形)

Drawing of a Huo Jian Dao Liu Xing (highlighted), from 'Shen Qi Pu Huo Wen (《神器譜或問》)'

While not as visible as sword, spear, bow or gun, axe remained an important weapon in Ming arsenal. For the most part, Chinese axes were quite consistent in form, and different types of axes were simply minor variations of each other.

Da Fu (大斧, big axe)

Ba La Hu Chuan (叭喇唬船)

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

Drawing of a Ba La Hu Chuan with a curved bow, from 'Jing Guo Xiong Lue (《經國雄略》)'.

Huo Dan Tong (火彈筒)

Drawing of a Huo Dan Tong (highlighted), from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

The Huo Dan Tong was a hand-mortar-style flare gun designed by Ming Dynasty firearm specialist Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨) to be used in conjunction with the Jiu Tou Niao (九頭鳥) during night fighting, shooting Huo Dan (火彈) to illuminate targets for the heavy matchlock gun.

Drawing of a Li Hua Qiang, from 'Chou Hai Tu Bian (《筹海图编》)'.

The Li Hua Qiang (梨花鎗, lit. "Pear Blossom Spear"), likely named because its fire tube produced explosive, scattering sparks reminiscent of a type of firecracker popular during the Ming period known as Da Li Hua (大梨花, lit. 'Great Pear Blossom'), was often regarded as the classic or quintessential example of a fire lance.

In reality, however, it was quite atypical among fire-lance-type weapons. Instead of the more common bamboo Pen Tong (噴筒) barrel, it mounted either a disposable paper tube or a reusable iron tube onto its shaft. Additionally, the Li Hua Qiang was considerably longer than most Chinese fire lances, as it had been modified from a standard Chang Qiang (長鎗).

The fire tube of Li Hua Qiang could also be mounted on a Lang Xian (狼筅).

Qi Ji Guang's Yuan Yang Zhen (鴛鴦陣) — Part 6

Basic layout of the late formation. Note the lack of Ai Pai (挨牌). From second edition 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'.

A hero's end

Unfortunately for Qi Ji Guang (戚繼光), political fallout following the death of Zhang Ju Zheng (張居正), then Grand Secretariat of the Ming Dynasty, eventually caught up with him. After serving at Ji Defence Region (薊鎮) for sixteen years, Qi Ji Guang was sidelined to Guangdong, a relatively unimportant post, before being discharged from military service altogether. Disheartened and having nothing better to do, Qi Ji Guang began reorganising his life's works and military experience and wrote the second edition of Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》).

Back to square one

Rendition of a full Mandarin Duck squad, without its squad leader and porter. This image is cropped, edited and pieced together from the training manuals of 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'. Weapons are edited to show realistic length.

Save for some minor differences, Mandarin Duck squad of the second edition Ji Xiao Xin Shu reverted back to its original form. It consisted of two identical teams of five, plus one squad leader and one porter. Each team consisted of one swordsman with rattan shield, one Lang Xian (狼筅), two pikemen armed with long spears, and one troop armed with a Tang Pa (鎲鈀). Unlike the original version however, Ai Pai (挨牌) was no longer used, so the teams were now completely identical. Da Bang (大棒) was also removed from the squad, except as backup weapon for the porter (who also used it as carrying pole).

Qi Ji Guang also incorporated the idea of dual role unit into this Mandarin Duck squad. Javelins were given back to the swordsmen, troops armed with Lang Xian were given swords (Lang Xian was considered "long reach" weapon), pikemen given either bows or crossbows (depending on his skill in archery), and troops armed with Tang Pa were equipped with rockets. Additionally, entire squad would be armoured in Qi Jia (緝甲) designed by Qi Ji Guang, most probably inspired by the iron armour of Northern troops. Qi Ji Guang also advised that every arquebusier should be given a Chang Dao (長刀).

While Qi Ji Guang attempted to implement this revised formation to Guangdong troops during his office at Guangdong, he was relieved from duty before his plan was put into motion. However, his former subordinates from Zhejiang likely picked up his book and at least tried to implement it after his death.

Jia Ba Chong (夾把銃)

MINOR UPDATE MARCH 06, 2025

The Jia Ba Chong (variously written as 夾把銃, 夾靶銃, 夾欛銃, and 夾耙銃, lit. 'Fastened handle gun'), also known as Jia Ba Qiang (夾把鎗, lit. 'Fastened handle spear'), was a single-barrel handgonne that can be considered a sub-type of the Kuai Qiang (快鎗).

Although the weapon had been in widespread use during the mid-Ming period, it was only first described by the renowned Ming commander Qi Ji Guang (戚繼光) in his 1571 military treatise Lian Bing Shi Ji (《練兵實紀》), in which the weapon is described as a Kuai Qiang with an iron shaft, so that it could be used as a iron quarterstaff in close combat.

Dian Guang Jian (電光劒)

Drawing of a Dian Guang Jian, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Dian Guang Jian (電光劒, lit. 'Lightning sword') was an unusual fire lance designed by Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨). It was a formidable pole-sword with a broad, double-edged chopping blade mounted on a shaft with a disc guard, and came with two barrels—one handgonne and one Pen Tong (噴筒)—mounted on either flat of the blade.

Qi Ji Guang's Yuan Yang Zhen (鴛鴦陣) — Part 5

Heavily armoured Sha Shou Dui, from 'Lian Bing Za Ji (《練兵雜紀》)'.

Reunion with the old army

Even after the conception of new Mandarin Duck Formation and the formation of Bu Ying (步營), Qi Ji Guang (戚繼光) was still unsatisfied with the performance of the soldiers of Northern frontiers. He requested for the transfer of Southern troops from Zhejiang province—troops he personally raised, trained, and fought together with—to Northern frontier almost as soon as he took charge in Ji Defence Region (薊鎮). The request was granted. At first three thousand Southern troops were sent, but this number gradually expanded to about twenty thousand.

Lian Zi Chong (連子銃)

Drawing of a Lian Zi Chong, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'.

Lian Zi Chong (連子銃, lit. 'Rapid bullet gun') was a type of burst-firing handgonne developed during mid Ming period. It had a round iron tube magazine mounted perpendicular to its barrel that held several lead balls, also loaded with several paper cylinders containing pre-measured charge of gunpowder (essentially blank paper cartridges), all connected to a single fuse.

Bamboo and Wooden guns of the Ming Dynasty

As the inventor of firearms, Chinese were also one of the first (if not the very first) to build their guns out of non-standard materials such as wood and bamboo, or even stone. These guns offered several advantages over their metal counterparts, namely lower cost, easier manufacture and portability. They were, however, less durable and very prone to catastrophic accident. Ming army used bamboo and wooden guns to supplement its metal guns, most often as one-use, disposable weapon.

For the purpose of this article, I will exclude fire lances (as these were proto-guns), Pen Tong (噴筒) (as these did not shoot bullets), rockets, dart guns and bombs. Only bamboo or wooden guns meant as low-cost substitute for metal tube firearms will be covered.

Zhu Huo Qiang (竹火鎗, bamboo handgonne)

Drawing of a Zhu Huo Qiang, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Wu Lei Shen Ji (五雷神機), San Jie Shen Ji (三捷神機) and Wan Sheng Fo Lang Ji (萬勝佛狼機)

UPDATED MAY 9, 2022

Wu Lei Shen Ji (五雷神機, lit. 'Five thunders divine engine')

Drawing of a Wu Lei Shen Ji, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Jian Qiang (劍鎗)

UPDATED 10 OCT, 2023

Drawing of a Jian Qiang with its stock, from 'Shi Lv (《師律》)'.

Da Zhui Feng Qiang (大追風槍)

UPDATED DECEMBER 19, 2023, minor update NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Da Zhui Feng Qiang (大追風鎗, lit. 'Great wind chasing gun')

Drawing of a Da Zhui Feng Qiang, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Da Zhui Feng Qiang, also known as Zhui Feng Qiang (追風鎗, lit. 'Wind chasing gun') and Zhui Feng Pao (追風砲, lit. 'Wind chasing cannon'), was a late Ming period heavy handgonne that possibly modified back from a matchlock gun to simplify the reloading process. Zhui Feng Qiang had a four chi four cun long gun barrel equipped with front and rear iron sight, a stock similar to that of a matchlock gun, as well as an iron tripod gun rest. It was typically loaded with a six qian five fen (24 g) lead ball, as well as six qian (22 g) of gunpowder, making it far more powerful than a typical arquebus.

Lacking a matchlock mechanism, Zhui Feng Qiang was ignited directly through its touch hole, and thus required a second operator.

Zi Mu Zhui Feng Qiang (子母追風鎗, lit. 'Mother-and-child wind chasing gun')

Late Ming period Liaodong commander Peng Hao Gu (彭簪古) also devised an upsized Da Zhui Feng Qiang with twice the barrel length. Designed to be mounted on ramparts and battlements, Zi Mu Da Zhui Feng Qiang was more powerful than even a heavy musket, although its tremendous length posed a problem for muzzle reloading, necessitating further modification to allow the weapon to be reloaded from an open breech.

Fei Kong Sha Tong (飛空砂筒, lit. 'Flying sand tube')

Drawings of Fei Kong Sha Tong and its launch tube, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Fei Kong Sha Tong (飛空砂筒), also known as Fei Kong Shen Sha Huo (飛空神砂火, lit. 'Flying divine sand fire') was a very strange rocket designed to blast poisoned sand to blind enemy soldiers. It was essentially a narrow bamboo slip (which serves as flight stabiliser) with two opposing rockets and a warhead attached to one end, all connected to a single fuse. Several iron barbs were also attached to the bamboo slip so that the rocket could catch onto its target before detonation.

Pen Tong (噴筒)

MINOR UPDATE JUNE 9, 2025

Pen Tong (噴筒, lit. 'Spurt tube') was a type of important but often overlooked gunpowder weapon of the Ming Dynasty. Nothing more than a hollow tube filled with various types of gunpowder, the weapon nevertheless remained a crucial weapon in the Ming arsenal.

Man Tian Pen Tong (滿天噴筒, lit. 'Sky-filling spurt tube')

Drawing of a Man Tian Pen Tong, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'.

Dang Tian Mie Kou Yin Yang Chan (蕩天滅寇陰陽鏟)

UPDATED MAY 24, 2022

Drawing of a Dang Tian Mie Kou Yin Yang Chan, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Yi Hu Chong (翼虎銃)

Drawing of a Yi Hu Chong, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Yi Hu Chong (翼虎銃, lit. 'Winged tiger gun'), sometimes also known as Yi Hu Pao (翼虎砲, lit. 'Winged tiger cannon') was a rare type of fire lance with three bamboo barrels and five hooks. It was a fairly long weapon, measuring one zhang five chi in length, and shot lead or iron shots.

Not to be confused with another weapon with the same name.

Bai Zi Chong (百子銃, lit. 'Hundred bullet gun')
Late Ming Bai Zi Chong discovered at an ancient battle site in Sichuan.

Bai Zi Chong, also known as Bai Zi Lian Zhu Pao (百子連珠砲, lit. 'Hundred bullet rapid fire cannon'), was the Chinese name for a muzzle-loading swivel gun. Prized for its wide arc of fire and accuracy, the Bai Zi Chong served primarily as shipborne anti-personnel ordnance and in siege defence.

Gun Bei (滾被)

Drawing of an ornate Qing Dynasty Gun Bei, from 'Huang Chao Li Qi Tu Shi (《皇朝禮器圖式》)'.

Gun Bei (滾被, lit. 'Rolling blanket') was an unusual equipment used by the Ming army. A literal two cun thick cotton blanket used as a handheld version of Ruan Bi (軟壁), Gun Bei was usually deployed in front of the main body of an army to screen it against arrows, stones, or even arquebus shots. Using Gun Bei was such a risky prospect (as it did not always stop the projectiles) that the soldier would earn double pay.

Gun Bei was usually used in conjunction with a pair of sabres.

101st Post: Commonly available visual references for Ming army (and why you shouldn't trust them)

This blog post was originally meant to be part of my 100th post rant, but that one kind of drag on for too long, so I decided to write a separate one.

I think I have to apologise beforehand if my tone in this blog post sounds too condescending. I know most illustrators are not historians, and it's very hard to reconstruct a historically accurate illustration with the information (which erred plenty) given to them. With that in mind, I have to say they had done a commendable job bringing the past to life.

Men-At-Arms 251 Medieval Chinese Armies 1260 - 1520
Even though I know Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》) is usually the go-to resource for researching Ming Dynasty military, I still find it odd to use a seventeenth century military manual as the reference to research and reconstruct Ming army of the fourteenth and fifteenth century. Then again, we have very few pre-sixteenth century sources to work with.

PAGE E

100th Post: Some ramblings and random thoughts on Ming Chinese armies in tabletop wargaming

It has been over a year since I start writing this blog. I originally wrote this blog as a means to reorganise my thoughts on the Ming Dynasty military (it's a long learning process, and I still learn something new everyday), with the added bonus of disclosing the relatively obscure and largely untranslated Chinese sources to the world at large (or whoever that might be interested). Over the time I started to find interest in tabletop wargaming, reenactment and martial arts, but to date I haven't joined any of these, as it is really hard to find a shop that sells miniatures, or a friend to play with, or a reenactment group, at the place I am living.

That being said, I did read a couple of wargaming rulebooks and army books, and seen the currently available miniatures (not that there are many to begin with). I think I have some (arguably extremely limited, and probably full of errors) grasps on how a Ming Chinese army is played on the tabletop, and I think “they are doing it all wrong”.

Random thoughts on Ming Chinese army in wargaming

1. Wear some shoes!

Yi Hu Pao (翼虎砲)

Drawing of a Yi Hu Pao, from 'Jun Qi Tu Shuo (《軍器圖說》)'.

Yi Hu Pao (翼虎砲, lit. 'Winged tiger cannon') was a late Ming period large handgonne or light cannon. It was said to be more powerful than other cannons (debatable, given the difference in size and bore), very accurate, and fairly portable. It was mounted on a wooden frame that allows its elevation to be adjusted.

Ding Pai (釘牌)

Front (right) and back (left) view of a Ding Pai, from 'Bing Jing (《兵鏡》)'.

Ding Pai (釘牌, spiked shield) was a modified Ai Pai (挨牌) that was reinforced with bamboo and covered in iron spikes. Although dangerous looking, Ding Pai was not intended as an offensive weapon, as its size and the way it was gripped (i.e. with straps) prevented it to be used effectively for bashing. Instead, Ding Pai was designed to be discarded should the need to retreat arise—the spiked shield served as makeshift caltrop to slow the advance of pursuers.

30 November 2015

28 November 2015

27 November 2015

Da Fu (大斧, big axe)

26 November 2015

24 November 2015

23 November 2015

A hero's end

Back to square one

Other blog posts in my Mandarin Duck Formation series:

22 November 2015

21 November 2015

19 November 2015

Reunion with the old army

18 November 2015

17 November 2015

Zhu Huo Qiang (竹火鎗, bamboo handgonne)

15 November 2015

Wu Lei Shen Ji (五雷神機, lit. 'Five thunders divine engine')

14 November 2015

Da Zhui Feng Qiang (大追風鎗, lit. 'Great wind chasing gun') Drawing of a Da Zhui Feng Qiang, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Zi Mu Zhui Feng Qiang (子母追風鎗, lit. 'Mother-and-child wind chasing gun')

Fei Kong Sha Tong (飛空砂筒, lit. 'Flying sand tube')

13 November 2015

Man Tian Pen Tong (滿天噴筒, lit. 'Sky-filling spurt tube')

12 November 2015

11 November 2015

Bai Zi Chong (百子銃, lit. 'Hundred bullet gun')Late Ming Bai Zi Chong discovered at an ancient battle site in Sichuan.

10 November 2015

8 November 2015

4 November 2015

2 November 2015

1 November 2015

Random Quotes & Trivia

Da Zhui Feng Qiang (大追風鎗, lit. 'Great wind chasing gun')

Drawing of a Da Zhui Feng Qiang, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Bai Zi Chong (百子銃, lit. 'Hundred bullet gun')
Late Ming Bai Zi Chong discovered at an ancient battle site in Sichuan.