Great Ming Military

Note: The content of this blog post was originally taken from my other articles. However, I decided to write a separate article for cleaner...

Note: The content of this blog post was originally taken from my other articles. However, I decided to write a separate article...

Bottom and side view of Bu Xia Yi Hu Chong (highlighted), from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. Among the many ingenious and unconventional fir...

Note: The content of this blog post was originally taken from my other articles. However, I decided to write a separate article for cleaner...

Note:  This blog post was originally part of my Breech-loading Cannons of the Ming Dynasty  article. However, I decided to split (and slight...

Hu Tou Che (left) and Hu Yi Che (right) on the move, from 'Xu Shen Qi Pu ...

Beside improving and designing various advanced firearms, Ming firearm specialist Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨) also came out with many innovative ide...

UPDATED MAY 14, 2023 Left: Inner side of Ying Yang Che. Top Right: Outer side of Ying Yang Che. Bottom Right: A Ying Yang Che with folded p...

From left to right: front view, side view and rear view of Chong Feng Lei Dian Che, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. Chong Feng Lei D...

Left: Back view of the multipurpose shield, wheel turned sideways. Centre: Back view of the multipurpose shield. Right: Front view of the ...

UPDATED MAY 5, 2022 One of the major hurdles that prevented matchlock guns from being adopted on a large scale in North China was the comp...

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

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...

Drawing of a Dian Guang Jian, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. Dian Guang Jian (電光劒, lit. 'Lightning sword') was an unu...

UPDATED MARCH 30, 2022 Zhen Die Chong (震疊銃, lit. 'Terror gun') Drawing of a Zhen Die Chong, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'....

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...

MINOR UPDATE FEBRUARY 5, 2026 Drawing of a soldier firing Xun Lei Chong, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. One of the most complex w...

UPDATED JANUARY 7, 2022, minor update MAY 14, 2023 One of the major weaknesses of early black powder firearms was the abysmal firing rate. C...

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

UPDATED APRIL 29, 2022 Drawing of a Huo Jian Liu and its rack-and-pinion matchlock mechanism (highlighted), from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜...