Sai Gong Chong (賽熕銃)

A Sai Gong Chong and its ramrod, from 'Bing Lu (《兵錄》)'.

Sai Gong Chong (賽熕銃 or 賽貢銃, lit. 'Gun that can match a Fa Gong') was another cannon designed by Ming general Qi Ji Guang (戚繼光). It was a three chi long muzzle-loading cannon, usually loaded with one lead cannonball weighing half jin, a departure from the standard practise of using multiple smaller shots in most Ming artillery.

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Rocket weaponry of the Ming Dynasty

UPDATED DECEMBER 9, 2024

Overview

While first rocket was believed to be invented around twelfth century and had been fielded in battle almost as soon as it became viable, it was not until Ming period that rocket was employed en mass as a practical battlefield weapon. Ming weapon engineers constantly sought to create more deadly rocketry, and developed many platforms to better utilise this devastating weapon, whether stationary, handheld or mobile.

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Bian Chong (邊銃)

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

Bian Chong (邊銃, lit. 'Border gun' or 'Frontier gun'), also known as Chong Gun (銃棍, lit. 'Staff gun') was a relatively common but very obscure firearm of the Ming army. True to its namesake, it was commonly found in the hands of frontier troops. Bian Chong was essentially a double-ended handgonne that also doubled as quarterstaff. It had one rear sight and two front sights, one on each end of the barrel, to facilitate aiming.

Some Bian Chong had one half of their barrels wrapped in bamboo or rattan to for better grip.

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