Huochong

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[edit]

* 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[edit]

* 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[edit]

1. ^ "Chinese Military Technology and Dai Viet: c. 1390-1497" (PDF). September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
2. ^ "The World's Earliest Cannon (世界上最早的火炮)" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
3. ^ Aung-Thwin, Michael Arthur (2011). New Perspectives on the History and Historiography of Southeast Asia: Continuing Explorations. Routledge. p. 83\. ISBN 9781136819643.
4. ^ "Chinese-style Firearms in Dai Viet (Vietnam) The". studylib.net. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
5. ^ Duan, Weicong. "Ming China As A Gunpowder Empire: Military Technology, Politics, And Fiscal Administration, 1350-1620". wustl.edu.
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". m.thepaper.cn. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
7. ^ "洪武碗口銃（洪二十六）-數位典藏與學習聯合目錄(3049405)". catalog.digitalarchives.tw. Retrieved 2023-03-23.

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Types of Chinese weaponry

Swords|

| Short swords|

* Dadao 大刀
* Dao 刀
* Hudie shuangdao (butterfly sword) 蝴蝶雙刀
* Jian 劍
* Liuyedao 柳葉刀
* Niuweidao 牛尾刀
* Piandao 片刀
* Yanmaodao 雁毛刀

|

Long swords|

* Changdao 長刀
* Miaodao 苗刀
* Wodao 倭刀
* Zhanmadao 斬馬刀

Polearms|

* Guandao 關刀
* Ge (dagger-axe) 戈
* Gun 棍
* Ji 戟
* Podao 朴刀
* Qiang 槍
* Hongyingqiang 紅纓槍
* Tang 镗
* Yueya chan (monk's spade) 月牙鏟

Roped/chained|

* Liuxing Chui (meteor hammer) 流星錘
* Sheng biao (rope dart) 繩鏢
* Jiujie bian (nine section whip) 九節鞭
* Sanjie gun 三節棍
* Chang xiao bang 長小棒

Projectile|

* Nu 弩
* Zhuge nu 諸葛弩
* Fire arrow 火箭
* Huoqiang 火槍
* Tu Huo Qiang 突火槍
* Huochong 火銃
* Shouchong 手銃
* Rocket cart 火箭車
* San yan chong 三眼銃
* Che Dian Chong 掣電銃
* Xun Lei Chong 迅雷銃
* Wankou Chong 碗口銃
* Hu dun pao 虎蹲砲
* Thunder crash bomb 震天雷

Handheld|

* Biān 鞭
* Chǐ 尺
* Chúi 錘
* Emeici 峨嵋刺
* Jiǎn 鐧
* Lujiao dao (deer horn knives) 鹿角刀
* Hook sword 鉤
* Ji lian 鷄鐮
* Fenghuo lun 風火輪

Protection|

* Armour and Helmet 甲胄
* Shield 盾
* Hook shield 鉤鑲

Major lists|

* Eighteen Arms of Wushu

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Early firearms and thermal weapons

* Timeline
* History of gunpowder
* Historiography
* History of the firearm

Firearms|

* Arquebus
* Bajozutsu pistol
* Bedil tumbak hand cannon
* Blunderbuss
* Combination gun
* Dragon
* Elephant gun
* English horse pistol
* Fire lance
* Hand cannon
* Hand mortar
* Heilongjiang hand cannon
* Howdah pistol
* Huo Chong hand cannon
* Huo Qiang lance hand cannon
* Istinggar arquebus
* Java arquebus
* Jiaozhi arquebus
* Meriam kecil hand cannon
* Muff pistol
* Nock M1779 seven barrel gun
* Petronel
* Pepperbox
* Pistol
* Puckle Μ1717 revolver gun
* San Yan Chong three barrel hand cannon
* Shou Chong hand cannon
* Tanegashima arquebus
* Toradar arquebus
* Tu Huo Qiang hand cannon

Rifles and muskets|

* Belton M1777 repeating musket
* Brown Bess musket
* Charleville musket
* Che Dian Chong musket
* Cookson M1750 repeating rifle
* M1696 French common musket
* Girardoni M1780 repeating air rifle
* Hartingk M1670 repeating rifle
* Jäger rifle
* Jazayer musket
* Jezail musket
* Jingal
* Kabyle musket
* Kalthoff M1630 repeating rifle
* Meylin M1719 Pennsylvania-Kentucky rifled musket
* Musket
* Musketoon
* Potzdam musket
* Spanish M1752 musket
* Springfield musket
* Wall gun
* Xun Lei Chong spear five barrel revolver musket

Early artillery|

* Abus
* Artillery of France in the Middle Ages
* Basilisk
* Baton a feu
* Breech-loading swivel gun
* Byzantine fire tube (cannon)
* Cannon
* Carronade
* Cetbang
* Chongtong
* Culverin
* Ekor lotong
* Falconet
* Fauconneau
* Gunpowder artillery in the Middle Ages
* Gunpowder weapons in the Song dynasty
* Hongyipao
* Hu Dun Pao cannon
* Korean cannon
* Lantaka
* Lela
* Mortar
* Obusier de vaisseau
* Organ gun
* Pierrier a boite
* Pot de fer
* Prangi
* Swivel gun
* Tarasnice
* Veuglaire
* Xanadu Gun
* Wankou Chong
* Wuwei Bronze Cannon

Medieval large calibre guns|

* Bombard
* Basilic
* Byzantine bombard
* Dardanelles bombard
* Dulle Griet
* Faule Grete
* Faule Mette
* Grose Bochse
* Mons Meg
* Orban bombard
* Pumhart von Steyr

Early rockets and incendiaries|

* Bo-hiya rocket arrow
* Byzantine rocket launcher
* Congreve rocket
* Fierce-fire Oil Cabinet (flamethrower)
* Fire arrow (rocket arrow)
* Fire crow rocket bomb
* Greek fire
* Hale rocket launcher
* Huo Che rocket arrow launcher
* Hwacha rocket arrow launcher
* Meng Huo You (Chinese petroleum)
* Mysorean rocket
* Naphtha
* Pen Huo Qi
* Petroleum naphtha
* Singijeon rocket arrow
* Thunder crash bomb

Firing mechanisms|

* Breechloader
* Doglock
* Flintlock
* Matchlock
* Miquelet lock
* Muzzleloader
* Snaphance
* Snaplock
* Snap matchlock
* Wheellock

Literatures|

* Huolongjing
* Jixiao Xinshu
* Wubei Zhi
* Wujing Zongyao

* Category:Early modern firearms
* Category:Early firearms

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