HIST4702 (2023-24) Digital History Project: 火攻挈要
Examining the Development of Firearms Technology: through Data Visualization
Examining the development of firearms technology in the context of world history reveals the rapid advancement of guns in China. While Europe was still unfamiliar with iron smelting, the Chinese had already perfected the production of cast iron cannons. The late Zhengde years marked a significant turning point, as the introduction of firearms like the Folangji and the Toucan opened up new possibilities for firearm development in China. Drawing inspiration from their structural principles and manufacturing techniques, firearms developers either transformed traditional artillery or incorporated the advantages of both Chinese and foreign firearms to create innovative weapons. During this period, a large number of high-quality beryllium cannons were manufactured, and their reputation can be found in various historical records. Additionally, this era witnessed the introduction of European scientific knowledge into China, which, combined with Chinese practical thinking and the diffusion of Western learning, played a complementary and progressive role in the advancement of firearms.
The emphasis on firearms production lies in the meticulous adherence to the “method.” Both the maker and user of firearms are required to have a precise understanding of quantity and treat it as an unalterable rule. The “Huo Gong Qi Yao” explains that the casting of large copper pieces necessitates careful measurement, discouraging reliance on cleverness or creativity to avoid mistakes. The method must be derived from trustworthy teachings and comparative analysis. The phrase “creativity leads to mistakes” highlights the importance of maintaining harmony in the length, size, and thickness of each weapon to ensure its effectiveness. The concepts of “comparison degree” and “proportional calculation” are not fixed, as different materials require variations in length, size, and thickness. These measurement ratios are the result of accumulated experience and practical knowledge. Sun Yuanhua believed that the power and long-range capabilities of firearms relied not only on well-manufactured barrels and properly blended gunpowder but also on the precise production of iron bullets.
The idea of standardizing the size of guns and cannons emerged during the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. Cannons from the same batch were cast according to predetermined specifications, with each part designed in advance. For example, the front chamber accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total length of the gun, maximizing the utilization of gunpowder and enhancing the projectile’s launch power. From the Yongle to Zhengde period, improvements in firearms were primarily seen in more rational structures and uniform sizes. The length of light hand cannons ranged from approximately 345 to 360 mm, while medium hand cannons measured around 358 to 365 mm. In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the Ordnance Bureau and the Military Warfare Bureau designed and modified handguns, general cannons, and other firearm types based on specific usage and established rules. They also created multi-shot guns, tiger squat cannons, and other variations. For instance, Qi Jiguang recorded the dimensions of five improved Folang machines equipped by his troops in Volume 12 of the “Ji Xiao Xin Shu.” Apart from detailing the accessories and sub-guns, it also listed the bullet weights, reflecting a refinement in artillery design and manufacturing during the mid-Ming Dynasty (see Table 1).
