FORMULAS FOR MATCHLOCK GUN
Modern (Swiss) Black Powder Formula
75.02% Saltpetre (Potassium Nitrate) : 15% Softwood charcoal : 9.97% Sulphur*Note: Shown here for comparison purpose.
Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》) c.a. 1588 AD
75.76% Saltpetre : 13.65% Softwood charcoal : 10.61% SulphurWu Lue Shen Ji (《武略神機》) c.a. 1562 AD
78.74% Saltpetre : 13.39% Softwood charcoal : 7.87% SulphurShen Qi Pu (《神器譜》) c.a 1598 AD
(For use in North China) 83.33% Saltpetre : 12.50% Softwood charcoal : 4.17% Sulphur(For use in South China) 80.66% Saltpetre : 13.70% Softwood charcoal : 5.64% Sulphur
Bing Lu (《兵錄》) c.a. 1606 AD
75.75% Saltpetre : 13.65% Softwood charcoal : 10.6% SulphurWu Bei Zhi (《武備志》) c.a. 1621 AD
(Formula 1) 75.76% Saltpetre : 12.88% Softwood charcoal : 11.36% Sulphur(Formula 2) 93.53% Saltpetre : 3.89% Softwood charcoal : 2.29% Sulphur : 2.29% Cantharidin
*Note: Formula 2 is likely dysfunctional and probably used for incendiary shell instead of powder charge.
Jin Tang Jie Zhu Shi Er Chou (《金湯借箸十二籌》) c.a. 1630 AD
81.16% Saltpetre : 7.25% Softwood charcoal : 11.59% SulphurHuo Gong Qie Yao (《火攻挈要》) c.a. 1643 AD
81.16% Saltpetre : 7.25% Softwood charcoal : 11.59% Sulphur*Note: With inputs from Johann Adam Schall von Bell, a German Jesuit missionary.
OTHER FORMULAS
(Incendiary) Shen Huo (神火, lit. 'Divine fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Cinnabar, Realgar, Orpiment
(Incendiary) Fei Huo (飛火, lit. 'Flying fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Cinnabar, Orpiment, Calomelas, Dried aconite root, Purging croton
(Incendiary) Jie Ying Huo (劫營火, lit. 'Camp-raiding fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Tung oil, Rosin,
(Incendiary) Lie Huo (烈火, lit. 'Raging fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Ginkgo, Rosin
(Incendiary) Ming Huo (明火, lit. 'Bright fire')
*Note: Formula unknown, it is possible that this is a catch-all term for all incendiary gunpowder, or synonymous to Shen Huo.(Incendiary) Peng Huo (噴火, lit. 'Spitfire')
59.70% Saltpetre : 10.45% Ash : 7.46% Sulphur : 22.39% Fine sand fried in oil
(Incendiary) Hui Huo (回火)
(Smoke) Ni Feng Huo (逆風火, lit. 'Headwind fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Wolf feces, Sambong, Powdered finless porpoise bone, Finless porpoise oil
(Fragmentation) Lan Huo (爛火, lit. 'Festering fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Iron pellets, Porcelain fragments, Cantharidin
Tertiary ingredient: Borax, Soap bean, Winged prickly ash
(Incendiary and poison smoke) Du Huo (毒火, lit. 'Poisonous fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Arsenic, Sal ammoniac
Tertiary ingredient: Human feces, "Silver rust" (leftover pollutant from silver mine)
(Tear gas) Fa Huo (法火, lit. 'Dharma fire')
Primary ingredient: Saltpetre, Softwood charcoal, SulphurSecondary ingredient: Orpiment
Tertiary ingredient: Arsenic, Ginger, Soap bean, Pepper
(Primer?) Bao Huo (爆火, lit. 'Explosive fire')
91.32% Saltpetre : 1.83% Ash : 6.85% Sulphur(Propellant) Qi Huo (起火, lit. 'Rising fire')
(Formula 1) 60.98% Saltpetre : 18.29% Softwood charcoal : 1.83% Sulphur : 24.39% Lithargyrum(Formula 2) 72.46% Saltpetre : 25.36% Ash : 2,17% Sulphur
(Day use formula) 52.63% Saltpetre : 47.37% Ash
(Night use formula) 76.19% Saltpetre : 19.04% Ash : 4.76% Sulphur