Great Ming Military

MINOR UPDATE JUNE 10, 2025 Scale model of a Sui Dynasty capital warship equipp...

Drawing of a Xuan Feng Pao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. Xuan Feng Pao (旋風砲, lit. 'Whirlwind trebuchet') was a type of tr...

Huo Qiu (火毬, lit. 'Fire ball') was a type of primitive incendiary bomb made of paper, bamboo basketry, or even clay. Developed dur...

Drawing of a Si Chuan Fei Shi, from 'Zhan Shou Quan Shu (《戰守全書》)'. Si Chuan Fei Shi (四川飛石, lit. 'Sichuanese flying stone...

Drawing of a Fei Gang, from 'Wu Bei Yao Lue (《武備要略》)'.

MINOR UPDATE OCTOBER 2, 2024 Credited with the invention of crossbow, the Chinese were keen on tinkering with their crossbow and coming o...

Stylised illustration of a Lu Gong Che, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志 》)'. Gong Cheng Lin Chong Lu Gong Che (攻城臨衝呂公車, lit. 'City-si...

Side view of a Pao, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'. Top view of a Pao, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'. Pao (礟, tr...

MINOR UPDATE JUNE 9, 2025 Pen Tong (噴筒, lit. 'Spurt tube') was a type of important but often overlooked gunpowder weapon o...

Drawing of a Jing Lan, from 'Wu Bei Yao Lue (《武備要略》)'. Jing Lan (井闌, lit. 'Water well lining') wa sthe last of the '...

Drawing of a Yun Ti, from 'Wu Bei Yao Lue (《武備要略》'. Yun Ti (雲梯, lit. 'Clour ladder') was also one of the 'Classic T...

Drawing of a Hu Dun Pao, from 'Lian Bing Za Ji (《練兵雜紀》)'. Hu Dun Pao (虎蹲砲, lit. 'Tiger crouching cannon') was a type of...

Hong Yi Pao (紅夷砲, lit. 'Red barbarian cannon') and  Xi Yang Pao (西洋砲, lit. 'Western Ocean cannon') are Chinese names for...

Drawing of a bronze Fa Gong on a European-style naval carriage, from 'Chou Hai Tu Bian (《籌海圖編》)'.

UPDATED MAY 7, 2022, minor update NOVEMBER 12, 2024 A small bronze Fo Lang J...