Great Ming Military

Drawing of Fei Qiang (left) and Fei Jian (right), from 'Shou Yu Quan Shu (《守圉全書》)'.

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 ,...

Hong Yi Pao (紅夷砲, lit. 'Red barbarian cannon') and  Xi Yang Pao (西洋砲, lit. 'Western Ocean cannon') are Chinese names for...

Drawing of a simple star fort, from 'Shou Wei Quan Shu (《守圍全書》)'. Star fort or  trace italienne  was one of the great invent...

Drawing of a bronze Fa Gong on a European-style naval carriage, from 'Chou Hai Tu Bian (《籌海圖編》)'.

UPDATED MAY 7, 2022, minor update DECEMBER 31, 2025 Large Fo Lang Ji from the Nanjing City Wall Museum. Fo Lang Ji (佛郎機, lit. 'F...

Drawing of a European sailing ship, probably a Portuguese East Indiaman, from 'Jing Guo Xiong Lue (《經國雄略》)'.

Drawing of a Wu Gong Chuan, from 'Chou Hai Tu Bian (《籌海圖編》)'.

UPDATED JULY 04, 2022, minor update March 6, 2026 Firelock guns—such as the wheellock, snaphaunce, miquelet l...

UPDATED MAY 4, 2022, minor update NOVEMBER 10, 2023 A Ming Dynasty matchlock arquebus found in Xuzhou.