Great Ming Military

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

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...

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...

Left: Back view of the multipurpose shield, wheel turned sideways. Centre: Back view of the multipurpose shield. Right: Front view of the ...

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...

Drawing of a Huo Jian Dao Liu Xing (highlighted), from 'Shen Qi Pu Huo Wen (《神器譜或問》)'

Drawing of a Huo Dan Tong (highlighted), from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. Huo Dan Tong (火彈筒, lit. 'Fire bullet tube') was a...

Drawing of a Dian Guang Jian, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. Dian Guang Jian (電光劒, lit. 'Lightning sword') was an unu...

UPDATED MARCH 30, 2022 Zhen Die Chong (震疊銃, lit. 'Terror gun') Drawing of a Zhen Die Chong, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'....

Drawing of a soldier firing Xun Lei Chong, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'. One of the craziest weapons developed by Ming Dynasty firea...

UPDATED JANUARY 7, 2022, minor update MAY 14, 2023 One of the major weaknesses of early black powder firearms was the abysmal firing rate. C...

UPDATED APRIL 29, 2022 Drawing of a Huo Jian Liu (highlighted) as well as its rack and pinion mechanism, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》...