Huochong (simplified Chinese: 火铳; traditional Chinese: 火銃) was the Chinese name for hand cannons.^[1] The oldest confirmed metal huochong, also the first cannon, is a bronze hand cannon bearing an inscription dating it to 1298 (see Xanadu gun).^[2]

By the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) two types of huochong were in use. One was a hand held version with a wooden shaft known as a shouchong (手銃) whilst the larger Wankouchong (碗口銃 — bowl-mouthed cannon) or Zhankouchong (盏口銃 — cup-mouthed cannon)^[3] rested on a supporting wooden frame. It was invented presumably as an advance in warfare, a new way to fight.

The Wankou Chong, translated literally as bowl-muzzle gun (Chinese: 碗口銃) was a type of Huochong gun used in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties.^[4][5] The cannons normally contained black powder, a wooden block or frame to contain the powder, and a large cannonball or a group of smaller cannonballs. The cannon was most commonly used to protect Chinese ports and to defend against pirates.^[6][7] The cannon faded out of use gradually due to its short barrel, slow rate of fire, and short range.

Gallery

• 
  The Xanadu gun, 1298, is an example of a Wankouchong (碗口銃)
• 
  Bronze cannon with inscription dated the 3rd year of the Zhiyuan era (1332) of the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368); it was discovered at the Yunju Temple of Fangshan District, Beijing in 1935. It is similar to Xanadu gun.
• 
  Replica of Ming dynasty cannons mounted on the opposite direction of a wooden frame, 1372.
• 
  Ming Bronze Gun, 1377 AD, Hongwu Emperor's reign.
• 
  Drawing of a Chinese pole gun found in Java, 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.
• 
  Chinese hand cannon (Chong), dated 1424. Length 35.7 cm, caliber 15 mm, weight 2.2736 kg.
• 
  Ming copper cannon, 1450 AD.
• 
  A socketed Ming dynasty hand cannon, 1505, from the Zhengde Emperor's reign.

See also

• Hu dun pao, the term refers to trebuchet and cannon.
• Heilongjiang hand cannon, hand cannon, ca. 1287–1288.
• Xanadu gun, a bowl-mouthed hand cannon, 1298.
• Wuwei Bronze Cannon, late Western Xia (1214–1227).
• Gunpowder weapons in the Song dynasty
• Military of the Yuan dynasty
• Bedil tombak, Nusantaran hand cannon.

References

This firearms-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e