Great Ming Military

Armoured Ming cavalrymen, cropped from 'Ping Fan De Sheng Tu (平番得勝圖)'. While Jia Ding (家丁) was perhaps the most famous Ming Dynasty...

Note : English translation of the titles are taken from Chinese-English Dictionary of Ming Government Official Titles, Third Edition, supple...

Note:  This blog post was originally part of my Sha Chuan (沙船) article. However, after updating that article with additional information, I...

Illustration of a Qing period Feng Zhou, from 'Zhong Shan Chuan Xin Lu (《中山傳信錄》)'. It should be noted that Ming period Feng Zhou, ab...

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...

Some ceramic containers that could be made into Hui Ping and Yan Guan (highlighted), from 'Wu Bei Ji Yao (《武備集要》)'. Hui Ping (灰瓶, li...

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

Wokou engaging in rape and pillage, from 'Tai Ping Kang Wo Tu (《太平抗倭圖》)'. In the previous months I've covered some Jia Jing Da W...

This illustration actually depicts Battle of Byeokjegwan rather than Battle of Jiksan, hence the snowy terrain. Unfortunately there is a se...

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...

Scenic photo of Yuegang Ancient Town, now a tourist attraction. Several months ago I explored the story of Zhang Lian (張璉), self-appointed F...