Equipment of a Ming soldier — Equestrian training equipment and exercises

As most Chinese people lived a sedentary lifestyle, horsemanship skill did not come to them as naturally as it did with the nomadic Mongols. Ming cavalrymen had to undergo additional training in order to keep up with their nomadic adversaries, and they employed several simple training equipment to this end:

Cheng Zu Li Mu Jia (稱足力木架, lit. 'Foot strength training wooden frame')

Drawing of a Cheng Zu Li Mu Jia, from 'Bing Fa Bai Zhan Jing (《兵法百戰經》)'.

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Zhi Heng Chong (直橫銃)

Drawing of a Zhi Heng Chong, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Zhi Heng Chong (直橫銃, lit. 'Vertical and horizontal gun') was essentially three San Yan Chong (三眼銃) strapped together, with one handgonne pointing forward and two handgonnes pointing sideways. All handgonnes were connected to a single fuse so that they would all fire at the same time.

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Xi Gua Pao (西瓜砲)

Xi Gua Pao (西瓜砲, lit. 'Watermelon bomb')

Drawing of a Xi Gua Pao and its contains, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

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