Zhao Shi Zhen's fire lances

Note: The content of this blog post was originally taken from my other articles. However, I decided to write a separate article for cleaner navigation, tidier organization, and easier reading and digestion.

Although normally focused on more advanced weapons, Ming firearm specialist Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨) also devised several devised several comparatively simpler and more primitive fire lances. These functioned primarily as close-combat supplements to his advanced war carts, with their gunpowder bursts designed to disrupt Mongol cavalry charges and Wokou swordsmen, allowing the fire lancers to then finish off disorganised foes in melee easily.

Li Hua Qiang (梨花鎗)

Zhao Shi Zhen's Li Hua Qiang, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Zhao Shi Zhen's modified Li Hua Qiang was simply a slightly enhanced version of the original fire lance, featuring two additional fire tubes to to extend the duration of the flame and incendiary discharge.

Tian Peng Chan (天蓬鏟)

Zhao Shi Zhen's Tian Peng Chan (highlighted), from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Zhao Shi Zhen also modified the Tian Peng Chan, transforming it into a fire lance by attaching two Peng Tong (噴筒) to the shaft.

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Huo Qiang (火鎗)

UPDATED NOVEMBER 9, 2023

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

Huo Qiang (火鎗, lit. 'Fire spear' or 'Fire lance') was an archetypal fire lance with an archetypal name. It had a seven chi long shaft, a one chi long spearhead, two prongs with integrated hooks similar to Mao Lian Tang (茅鐮鎲), a butt spike, as well as two linked Pen Tong (噴筒) that fired in succession.

Contrary to a popular misconception, fire lance was probably not the direct predecessor of true guns but a branched development/specialisation of earlier gunpowder-based flamethrowers and proto-guns, only appearing in recorded history around 1230s. In fact, this particular Huo Qiang was only devised around the turn of the seventeenth century.

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Li Hua Qiang (梨花鎗)

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).

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