Great Ming Military

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

The final part of my Shield Evolution series will cover the shield designs of Gorguyeo Kingdom, Jurchen Jin Dynasty, Dali Kingdom, Joseo...

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

MINOR UPDATE MARCH 4, 2024 The Uprising of the Five Barbarians overran North China in 316 AD and caused the downfall of Western Jin Dyna...

A couple days ago I chanced upon this  interesting article in Periklis Deligiannis's blog. It is nice to see that ancient Chinese milit...

Different types of Song Dynasty Li Pai. From 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

A Shou Pai, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Shou Pai (手牌, hand shield) was a long and narrow hand shield made of popla r or pine woo...

Drawing of an ornate Qing Dynasty Gun Bei, from 'Huang Chao Li Qi Tu Shi (《皇朝禮器圖式》)'. Gun Bei (滾被, lit. 'Rolling blanket...

Front (right) and back (left) view of a Ding Pai, from 'Bing Jing (《兵鏡》)'. Ding Pai (釘牌, spiked shield) was a modified Ai Pai...

A different Yan Wei Pai, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Yan Wei Pai (燕尾牌, lit. 'Swallowtail shield'), sometimes simply kn...

Front (right) and back (left) view of Ai Pai, from sixteenth century military treatise 'Chou Hai Tu Bian (《籌海圖編》)'. Ai Pai (挨牌 ...

The three principal equipments of a Chinese Teng Pai Shou (藤牌手, rattan shieldman) are his Teng Pai (藤牌) shield, his Yao Dao (腰刀) sword, and...