''Huochong'' () was the Chinese name for hand cannons. The oldest confirmed metal ''huochong'', also the first

cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

, is a bronze hand cannon bearing an inscription dating it to 1298 (see Xanadu Gun, Xanadu gun). By the time of the

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

(1368–1644) two types of ''huochong'' were in use. One was a hand held version with a wooden shaft known as a '' shouchong'' () whilst the larger ''Wankouchong'' ( — bowl-mouthed cannon) or ''Zhankouchong'' ( — cup-mouthed cannon) rested on a supporting wooden frame.''

History of Ming The ''History of Ming'' or the ''Ming History'' (''Míng Shǐ'') is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the ''Twenty-Four Histories''. It consists of 332 volumes and covers the history of the Ming dynasty from 1368 to 1644. It ...

'' Army Records Chapter Four It was invented presumably as an advance in warfare, a new way to fight.

Gallery

File:上都火銃.jpg, The Xanadu gun, 1298, is an example of a Wankouchong () File:Bronze cannon of 1332.jpg, Bronze cannon with inscription dated the 3rd year of the Zhiyuan era (1332) of the

Yuan Dynasty The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fif ...

(1271–1368); it was discovered at the Yunju Temple of

Fangshan District Fangshan District () is situated in the southwest of Beijing, away from downtown Beijing. It has an area of and a population of 814,367 (2000 Census). The district is divided into 8 subdistricts, 14 towns, and 6 townships. The district administ ...

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the Capital city, capital of the China, People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's Li ...

in 1935. It is similar to Xanadu gun. File:Ming 2-Cannon Device (9883206133).jpg, Replica of Ming dynasty cannons mounted on the opposite direction of a wooden frame, 1372. File:Ming Bronze Gun, 1377 AD, Hongwu Reign (10129376023).jpg, Ming Bronze Gun, 1377 AD,

Hongwu Emperor The Hongwu Emperor (21 October 1328 – 24 June 1398), personal name Zhu Yuanzhang (), courtesy name Guorui (), was the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1368 to 1398. As famine, plagues and peasant revolts i ...

's reign. File:Chinese pole gun found in Java.png, Drawing of a Chinese pole gun found in

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mo ...

, 1421. It weighed 2.252 kg, length of 357 mm, and caliber of 16 mm. This gun features a rain cover connected with hinge, which is now missing. The hinge is still preserved. File:Hand Cannon (Chong) MET DT366859.jpg, Chinese hand cannon (''Chong''), dated 1424. Length 35.7 cm, caliber 15 mm, weight 2.2736 kg. File:Ming Copper Cannon.jpg, Ming copper cannon, 1450 AD. File:Ming tiller gun 1505.jpg, A socketed

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

hand cannon, 1505, from the

Zhengde Emperor The Zhengde Emperor (; 26 October 149120 April 1521) was the 11th Emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigned from 1505 to 1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son. Zhu Houzhao took the throne at only 14 with the era name Z ...

's reign.

References

Early firearms Military history of Imperial China Firearms of China Chinese inventions {{gun-stub

Gallery

See also

References