Great Ming Military

Introduction of brigandine to China It is generally accepted that Chinese armies adopted brigandine armour due to Mongol influence, althoug...

UPDATED MAY 8, 2022 A recent comment from my other blog post reminds me that I have yet to write anything about Chinese arming garments, ...

UPDATED JUNE 10, 2024, minor update MAY 11, 2026 2. The gate The second part of this series will provide an overview on various comp...

The  Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms  that followed the downfall of Tang Dynasty was a period of chaos and upheaval. Eventually, the northe...

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

Left: An unnamed commander or guard in Chinese-style "Cataphract" armour. Middle: Wu Dao Jiang Jun (五道將軍), one of the Chinese ...

The movie God of War is truly a breath of fresh air from the China's cinema scene. From the unimaginative bog that's choke-full...

Many of the enemies of Ming Dynasty are equally as misunderstood as the Chinese themselves. Wokou (倭寇) , or Japanese pirates, were a particu...

UPDATED NOVEMBER 10, 2022 Left: An unnamed Ming Jin Yi Wei (錦衣衛, lit. 'Brocade-clad guard') in parade gear. Middle: Fu De (富德), ...

UPDATED DECEMBER 30, 2022 Section of the scroll paintin...

A pair of Bi Fu, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

For most of China's history, lamellar armour and, to a much lesser extent, scale armour were the most widely used armour types in Chines...

UPDATED DECEMBER 7, 2022 Section of the scroll painting...

Section of the Ming Dynasty scroll painting 'Ping Fan De Sheng Tu (《平番得勝圖》)', depicting Ming cavalry chasing rebel horsemen.

Tie Lian Jia Bang (鐵鏈夾棒, lit. 'Iron chain with clubs') Drawing of a Tie Lian Jia Bang, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Tie Li...

Extant jian probably dated to Ming period. "Why Chinese/Japanese/other cultures never developed complex hilt" is a question t...

Section of a mural depicting Shaolin warrior monks training with their weapons. From 'Shao Lin Wu Seng He Lian Tu (《少林武僧合練圖》)',  S...

Large number of  Ming infantrymen, from  'Wakō-zukan (《倭寇図巻》)'.