Great Ming Military

Drawing of a Qiang Chong and its ramrod, from 'Wu Bei Ji Yao (《武備集要》)'. Qiang Chong (鎗銃, lit. 'Gun spear') was, as its name...

Some firearms commonly used in Northwest China (in particular Shaanxi and Xuanfu Garrison) around 1600s, roughly to-scale to the soldier. Th...

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 ...

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

A replica Zhejiang Niao Chuan built in 2003. Although seaworthy, the replica's sails appear much smaller than historical ships. The last...

UPDATED AUGUST 17, 2025 Drawing of a Fu Chuan with full bamboo palisade, from 'Jing Guo Xiong Lue (《經國雄略》)'. Note its rolled, rat...

  This article is a continuation of my previous  armour comparison blog post , exploring various gaps and weakness of Japanese armour. The a...

Zhejiang infantry formation 『遂命諸技, 一時呈技, 隊長在前, 橙牌居次, 砲手又居次, 筤筅、長搶、三枝搶, 又次次居之, 迭相進退, 左旋右抽, 各臻其妙。』 "(He) then ordered various branches t...

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...

A barefoot She man from  Luoyuan County . Image cropped from 'Huang Qing Zhi Gong Tu (《皇清職貢圖》)'.

Drawing of a Po Chuan Fa, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Po Chuan Fa (破船筏, lit. 'Ship-breaking raft'), also known as Po Chuan G...

MINOR UPDATE JUNE 9, 2025 Armoured cavalry escorting a commander and a mandarin. From 'Kang Wo Tu Juan (《抗倭圖卷》)'. As Ming em...

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...

MINOR UPDATE JUNE 28, 2023 Drawing of a Duo Qian Fang Pai (highlighted), from 'Wu Bei Ji Yao (《武備集要》)'.

A brief overview of the development of naval mine during Ming period. Article highlight includes limpet mine and a primitive torpedo. ...

Shui Di Long Wang Pao (水底龍王砲, lit. 'Underwater dragon king bomb') Drawing of Shui Di Long Wang Pao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)...

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...

Drawing of a Si Chuan Fei Shi, from 'Zhan Shou Quan Shu (《戰守全書》)'. Si Chuan Fei Shi (四川飛石, lit. 'Sichuanese flying stone...