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Pages

武備志(四十九)

Wubei Zhi (Vol. 49)

武備志(四十九)

Chinese

1621

81 pages

Chinese Classics Chinese History Statecraft East Asia Chinese Technology Chinese Military Technology

First Translation

No prior complete English translation of this text has been found.

The 'Wubei Zhi' (Treatise on Armament Technology) is a massive 240-volume military encyclopedia compiled by Mao Yuanyi in 1621. Despite its historical significance, no complete English translation of the work or this specific volume exists. While academic works on Chinese military history (such as those by Joseph Needham) frequently reference and excerpt the text, these are scholarly analyses rather than published translations of the source text. Catalog searches returned no records of any English translation for this author or title.

Verified Mar 8, 2026 via local catalogs, local catalogs, local catalogs, google books · methodology

Chinese History & Statecraft Chinese Classics

About This Book

military

How does a scattered community transform itself into an impregnable engine of war? In Wubizhi (49), military visionary Mao Yuanyi provides the definitive blueprint for total defense, blending cutting-edge fortification engineering with a radical philosophy of social unity. Discover the tactical secrets of 'merged forts,' where every citizen—from elite musketeers to the women’s cauldron squads—becomes a vital link in a defensive chain that no enemy can break.

Index

153 terms

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Major Themes

武備志34p壕墻17pWubei Zhi16p

ammunition conservationp. 58, p. 62

archersp. 50, p. 55

artillerymenp. 56, p. 64

barbariansp. 12, p. 27, p. 28

barbicanp. 17, p. 18, p. 19, p. 25, p. 30, p. 37

barbican (wengcheng)p. 18, p. 76

bastionsp. 13, p. 21, p. 22

battlementsp. 13, p. 14, p. 17, p. 18, p. 19, p. 34, p. 49, p. 54+1 more

border defensep. 2, p. 5

community covenantp. 74, p. 75

community defensep. 52, p. 53

Corner Terracep. 19, p. 20, p. 25

crescent-moon stavesp. 27, p. 28

defensive architecturep. 11, p. 13, p. 14, p. 15, p. 17, p. 21, p. 22, p. 33

defensive equipmentp. 35, p. 81

defensive fortificationsp. 38, p. 43

defensive signalingp. 28, p. 80

defensive strategyp. 25, p. 26, p. 48

defensive tacticsp. 34, p. 54

defensive weaponryp. 41, p. 70, p. 72

drainage troughsp. 18, p. 19, p. 20

Enclosure Wallsp. 12, p. 13

Enemy Terracep. 21, p. 22, p. 23, p. 25

enemy towersp. 13, p. 27

Finance Chiefp. 53, p. 54

fire defensep. 18, p. 19

Fire Spearp. 44, p. 45

fire tubesp. 39, p. 40

firearmsp. 16, p. 72, p. 77

Fireproofingp. 20, p. 29

Fort Commanderp. 58, p. 61, p. 63, p. 67

fort consolidationp. 7, p. 9

Fort Leaderp. 50, p. 51

fortificationp. 10, p. 17, p. 19, p. 23, p. 24, p. 42, p. 71

Fortification Designp. 12, p. 15, p. 18, p. 20

fortification feesp. 74, p. 75

fortificationsp. 2, p. 16, p. 33

Fortress Defensep. 26, p. 27, p. 30, p. 31, p. 41

Gate Defensep. 20, p. 29

gongs and drumsp. 61, p. 62

Showing 40 of 150 entries.

Illustrations13

Woodcut illustration of an 'Aipai' (shield) featuring a fierce beast face.

woodcut

Woodcut diagram of a corner platform (jiaotai) for a city wall fortification.

diagram

A woodcut diagram from the Wubizhi showing two types of defensive wall structures, one with open crenellations and one without.

diagram

Diagram of a battering ram (衝木) showing vertical and horizontal usage.

diagram

Woodcut diagram of a 'hanging screen' (xuán lián), a military defensive device from the Wubei Zhi.

diagram

Woodcut diagram of a large fort's defensive layout.

diagram

Woodcut diagram comparing two designs for defensive walls or battlements.

diagram

Woodcut diagram of a 'wèngchéng' (barbican) fortification layout.

diagram

Related Books

1 related

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Related works (1)

武備志(五十三)茅元儀Mao Yuanyi, Mao Yuanyi, Mao Yuanyi (Compiler), Mao Yuanyi (Compiler), Watchtowers

Pages

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