Some random mythbustings — Wokou Edition

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

Myth 1. Hai Jin (海禁, lit. 'Sea ban') or maritime trade prohibition constituted the Wokou phenomenon.

『倡海市以息亂者，全無後慮，且不知致亂之原蓋在於法弛，而非有嚴法以致之。吾恐市一開，而全浙危矣。』
"Those that suggest to open maritime trade in order to pacify the turmoil have no regard for consequences at all, and (they) have no idea that this chaos is caused by lawlessness instead of stringent law. I am afraid that if the trade is opened, entire Zhejiang will be in dire danger."

— Wan Biao (萬表), protesting the ridiculous notion of opening trade to pacify Wokou, in his book Hai Kou Yi (《海寇議》).

Wokou engaging in rape and pillage, from 'Tai Ping Kang Wo Tu (《太平抗倭圖》)'.

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Chong Di Tie Tou Che (沖敵鐵頭車)

Drawing of a Chong Di Tie Tou Che, from 'Yu Zi Shi San Zhong Mi Shu Bing Heng (《喻子十三種秘書兵衡》)'.

Chong Di Tie Tou Che (沖敵鐵頭車, lit. 'Enemy-charging iron headed wagon'), also known as Chong Zhen Tie Tou Che (沖陣鐵頭車, lit. 'Formation-charging iron headed wagon'), was an unusual war wagon developed during the twilight years of the Ming Dynasty. Like its namesake, it was a four-wheeled wagon with an iron plough mounted at the front—essentially, a human-powered bulldozer.

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Wan Ren Di (萬人敵)

UPDATED JULY 11, 2024

Tian Gong Kai Wu (《天工開物》) variant

Drawing of Wan Ren Di in action, from 'Tian Gong Kai Wu (《天工開物》)'.

Wan Ren Di (萬人敵, lit. 'Rivaling ten thousand men') was a type of improvised incendiary devise developed during the twilight years of the Ming Dynasty. Recorded in late Ming encyclopedia Tian Gong Kai Wu, it was meant to be used to defend relatively small and remote cities and fortresses where ponderous cannons wouldn't be of much use.

Wan Ren Di was a relatively simple weapon that could be cheaply and easily manufactured. It consisted of two components: a hollowed clay ball filled with various types of propellants and gunpowder (usually incendiary or poison smoke), as well as a boxy wooden frame. Alternatively, a wooden barrel with its inside fireproofed with clay could be used in place of the wooden frame.

Like Fei Huo Xiang Mo Chui (飛火降魔槌), the bomb did not detonate after being thrown. Instead, the clay ball would start spinning inside the wooden frame (which was used to prevent the clay ball from breaking apart during impact) and projecting fire all around it, effectively deny the area to the enemy for an extended period of time.

Zhan Shou Quan Shu (《戰守全書》) variant

Drawing of two different containers for Wan Ren Di, from 'Zhan Shou Quan Shu (《戰守全書》)'.

A completely different Wan Ren Di, also called Wan Ren Di Guan (萬人敵罐, lit. 'Rivaling ten thousand men jar'), can be found in another late Ming military treatise, Zhan Shou Quan Shu. 

A throwback to ancient thunder crash bomb, this version of Wan Ren Di was originally a fused grenade or bomb used to attack enemy troops and siege engines at the base of the wall, although the risk of yet-to-explode grenades being picked up and thrown back at the defenders eventually led to simplification of the weapon into a simple container filled with gunpowder and other incendiaries akin to Huo Tong (火桶), that had to be set off separately. The simplified Wan Ren Di could either be dropped or lowered via iron chain to the base of the wall.

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