Huo Qiu (火毬)

Huo Qiu (火毬, lit. 'Fire ball') was a type of primitive incendiary trebuchet ammunition made of paper, bamboo basketry, or even clay. Developed in the eleventh century, Huo Qiu was one of the earliest gunpowder weapons in the world (along with gunpowder-based fire arrows and early rockets), predating even the fire lance.

At the time of its invention, the Chinese had yet to perfect the formula for explosive gunpowder, and the fuse would not be invented for another century. As a result, the Huo Qiu could only burn but not explode, and it lacked a burning fuse. Instead, an iron awl was used to ignite the bomb (by poking a red hot awl into the ball). Huo Qiu was usually flung by a trebuchet, although some versions could be thrown by hand or launched from a sling.

A straight awl (top) and hook awl (bottom) used to ignite Huo Qiu. From 'Wu Jing Zong Yao (《武經總要》)'.

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Military fireworks of the Ming Dynasty

Section of the scroll painting 'Ru Bi Tu (《入蹕圖》)', depicting Emperor Shenzong's entourage launching firework rockets into the sky.

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Zhong Huo Ku (種火庫)

Components of a Zhong Huo Ku, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

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Wan Ren Di (萬人敵)

UPDATED JULY 11, 2024

Tian Gong Kai Wu (《天工開物》) variant

Drawing of Wan Ren Di in action, from 'Tian Gong Kai Wu (《天工開物》)'.

Wan Ren Di (萬人敵, lit. 'Rivaling ten thousand men') was a type of improvised incendiary devise developed during the twilight years of the Ming Dynasty. Recorded in late Ming encyclopedia Tian Gong Kai Wu, it was meant to be used to defend relatively small and remote cities and fortresses where ponderous cannons wouldn't be of much use.

Wan Ren Di was a relatively simple weapon that could be cheaply and easily manufactured. It consisted of two components: a hollowed clay ball filled with various types of propellants and gunpowder (usually incendiary or poison smoke), as well as a boxy wooden frame. Alternatively, a wooden barrel with its inside fireproofed with clay could be used in place of the wooden frame.

Like Fei Huo Xiang Mo Chui (飛火降魔槌), the bomb did not detonate after being thrown. Instead, the clay ball would start spinning inside the wooden frame (which was used to prevent the clay ball from breaking apart during impact) and projecting fire all around it, effectively deny the area to the enemy for an extended period of time.

Zhan Shou Quan Shu (《戰守全書》) variant

Drawing of two different containers for Wan Ren Di, from 'Zhan Shou Quan Shu (《戰守全書》)'.

A completely different Wan Ren Di, also called Wan Ren Di Guan (萬人敵罐, lit. 'Rivaling ten thousand men jar'), can be found in another late Ming military treatise, Zhan Shou Quan Shu. 

A throwback to ancient thunder crash bomb, this version of Wan Ren Di was originally a fused grenade or bomb used to attack enemy troops and siege engines at the base of the wall, although the risk of yet-to-explode grenades being picked up and thrown back at the defenders eventually led to simplification of the weapon into a simple container filled with gunpowder and other incendiaries akin to Huo Tong (火桶), that had to be set off separately. The simplified Wan Ren Di could either be dropped or lowered via iron chain to the base of the wall.

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Huo Dan Tong (火彈筒)

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 Ming Dynasty firearm specialist Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨) to be used in conjunction with the Jiu Tou Niao (九頭鳥) during night fighting, shooting Huo Dan (火彈) to illuminate targets for the heavy matchlock gun.

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Bamboo and Wooden guns of the Ming Dynasty

As the inventor of firearms, Chinese were also one of the first (if not the very first) to build their guns out of non-standard materials such as wood and bamboo, or even stone. These guns offered several advantages over their metal counterparts, namely lower cost, easier manufacture and portability. They were, however, less durable and very prone to catastrophic accident. Ming army used bamboo and wooden guns to supplement its metal guns, most often as one-use, disposable weapon.

For the purpose of this article, I will exclude fire lances (as these were proto-guns), Pen Tong (噴筒) (as these did not shoot bullets), rockets, dart guns and bombs. Only bamboo or wooden guns meant as low-cost substitute for metal tube firearms will be covered.

Zhu Huo Qiang (竹火鎗, bamboo handgonne)

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

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Pen Tong (噴筒)

MINOR UPDATE JUNE 9, 2025

Pen Tong (噴筒, lit. 'Spurt tube') was a type of important but often overlooked gunpowder weapon of the Ming Dynasty. Nothing more than a hollow tube filled with various types of gunpowder, the weapon nevertheless remained a crucial weapon in the Ming arsenal.

Man Tian Pen Tong (滿天噴筒, lit. 'Sky-filling spurt tube')

Drawing of a Man Tian Pen Tong, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'.

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