Huo Qiu (火毬)

Huo Qiu (火毬, lit. 'Fire ball') was a type of primitive incendiary trebuchet ammunition made of paper, bamboo basketry, or even clay. Developed in the eleventh century, Huo Qiu was one of the earliest gunpowder weapons in the world (along with gunpowder-based fire arrows and early rockets), predating even the fire lance.

At the time of its invention, the Chinese had yet to perfect the formula for explosive gunpowder, and the fuse would not be invented for another century. As a result, the Huo Qiu could only burn but not explode, and it lacked a burning fuse. Instead, an iron awl was used to ignite the bomb (by poking a red hot awl into the ball). Huo Qiu was usually flung by a trebuchet, although some versions could be thrown by hand or launched from a sling.

A straight awl (top) and hook awl (bottom) used to ignite Huo Qiu. From 'Wu Jing Zong Yao (《武經總要》)'.

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Patron only: A brief overwiew of the invention and development of naval mine during the Ming Dynasty

A brief overview of the development of naval mine during Ming period. Article highlight includes limpet mine and a primitive torpedo.

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Square formation of Xu Lun (許論) — Part 3

Xu Lun's War Cart Formation

While Xu Lun (許論) obviously preferred cheval de frise over war carts, he also understood that his army could not rely on just one type of mobile obstacle and tactic. As thus, he also devised a war cart formation in case his army was required to fight in a more conventional way.

Organisation and Equipment

Xu Lun did not discuss the organisation and equipment of his war cart formation in detail, as it was simply adapted from his original square formation. Instead of assigning three Ju Ma (拒馬) to every forty-five infantry, a war cart, which could be a Qing Che (輕車), a Zhan Che (戰車), or some other types, was assigned to every seventy-five infantry. Additionally, a supply cart was given to every twenty-five support personnel. As such, a 3,000-strong army would own twenty-four war carts as well as twelve supply carts. The seventy-five troops unit consisted of twenty-five spearmen, twenty-five archers (Xu Lun included crossbowmen this time), and twenty-five handgonners.

Cavalry arm of the war cart formation was largely unchanged, although some cavalrymen fought dismounted in the new formation.

Formation and Tactics

Simplified drawing of Xu Lun's new formation. From 'Chou Bian Zuan Yi (《籌邊纂議》)'

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