Huochong

Short description: Chinese name for hand cannons

Hand cannon from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)

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

1. ↑ "Chinese Military Technology and Dai Viet: c. 1390-1497". September 2003. http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wps03_011.pdf.
2. ↑ "The World's Earliest Cannon (世界上最早的火炮)" (in zh). http://www.erdsi.net/sjszzdhp.html.
3. ↑ Aung-Thwin, Michael Arthur (2011). New Perspectives on the History and Historiography of Southeast Asia: Continuing Explorations. Routledge. pp. 83. ISBN 9781136819643.
4. ↑ "Chinese-style Firearms in Dai Viet (Vietnam) The" (in en). https://studylib.net/doc/8680973/chinese-style-firearms-in-dai-viet--vietnam--the.
5. ↑ Duan, Weicong. "Ming China As A Gunpowder Empire: Military Technology, Politics, And Fiscal Administration, 1350-1620". https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2748&context=art_sci_etds.
6. ↑ "中国航海火器丨古代重型金属管型火器始祖——碗口铳_生活_澎湃新闻-The Paper". https://m.thepaper.cn/rss_newsDetail_8665226?from=.
7. ↑ "洪武碗口銃（洪二十六）-數位典藏與學習聯合目錄(3049405)". https://catalog.digitalarchives.tw/item/00/2e/87/bd.html.

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* Dadao 大刀
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* Huoqiang 火槍
* Tu Huo Qiang 突火槍
* Huochong 火銃
* Shouchong 手銃
* San yan chong 三眼銃
* Che Dian Chong 掣電銃
* Xun Lei Chong 迅雷銃

Handheld|

* Chúi 錘
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Medieval large-calibre guns|

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