Great Ming Military

Bombard-type Great General Cannon (bottom right) and its various sub-types....

Drawing of a Lian Zhu Pao (right) and Yu Gu Pao (left), from 'Wu Bei Ji Yao (《武備集要》)'. Lian Zhu Pao (連珠砲, lit. 'Rapid bead cann...

Drawing of two Hu Wei Chong mounted on a double-ended stand, from 'Wu Bei Ji Yao (《武備集要》)'.

Qian Dan Yi Wo Feng (鉛彈一窩蜂) Drawing of Qian Dan Yi Wo Feng in shoulder bag for transportation (top right), and the same cannon when deployed...

Drawing of a paper fuse (top right), paper sealing tube (middle right), wooden fuse (top bottom), shell casing (top left) and bombard (botto...

Di Lei Lian Pao (地雷連砲, lit. 'Ground thunder rapid cannon') Drawing of three soldiers firing three Di Lei Lian Pao, from 'Wu Bei ...

Drawing of a Jue Chong, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Jue Chong (钁銃, lit. 'Mattock gun'), also known as Gou Tou Chong (勾頭...

MINOR UPDATE JANURAY 28, 2024 Two Ming troopers shooting Zao Hua Xun Huan Pao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Zao Hua Xun Huan Pa...

Drawing of a Jiu Long Jian, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Jiu Long Jian (九龍箭, lit. 'Nine dragons arrow') was a simple iron...

UPDATED NOVEMBER 9, 2023 Drawing of a Huo Qiang, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Huo Qiang (火鎗, lit. 'Fire spear' or 'F...

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...

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 kn...

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 ...

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...

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 ,...

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 per...

Early Ming variant Drawing of a dart-shooting Shen Qiang, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Shen Qiang (神鎗, lit. 'Divine gun'...

Drawing of a Kuai Qiang, from 'Lian Bing Shi Ji (《練兵實紀》)'. Kuai Qiang (快鎗, lit. 'Fast gun'), also known as Qiang B...

UPDATED FEBRUARY 13, 2022, minor update DECEMBER 29, 2023 Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》) variant Drawing of a Zi Mu Chong and its iron canister...

A Sai Gong Chong and its ramrod, from 'Bing Lu (《兵錄》)'. Sai Gong Chong (賽熕銃 or 賽貢銃, lit. 'Gun that can match a Fa Gong'...