Treatise on Military Preparedness, Volume 123: Chronicle of Military Supplies; Fire; Illustrated Descriptions of Firearms, Part 2

Treatise on Military Preparedness, Volume 123

original: "茅元儀" (Mao Yuanyi). Mao was a Ming Dynasty polymath and military specialist. "Fangfeng" (防風) was his courtesy name.

Chronicle of Military Supplies

Fire Weapons, Part 5

Illustrated Descriptions of Firearms, Part 2

Artillery, Part 2

砲 (Pao): While this character historically referred to stone-throwing trebuchets, by the time of the Wubei Zhi in 1621, it primarily designated gunpowder-based cannons and heavy artillery.

The Infinite Creation and Cyclical Cannon
original: "造化循環砲" (Zaohua Xunhuan Pao). "Zaohua" refers to the creative and transformative forces of nature or the universe, implying the weapon's power is as immense and inevitable as the natural world.

The Swarm of Beacons Cannon
original: "羣烽砲" (Qunfeng Pao). Likely a reference to its ability to fire multiple projectiles or create a massive display of fire similar to a series of signal beacons.

The Eight-Directional Whirlwind, Mist-Spewing, and Thunder-Clapping Cannon
original: "八面旋風吐霧轟雷砲" (Bamian Xuanfeng Tuwu Honglei Pao). This evocative name describes a weapon capable of firing in all directions, creating a screen of smoke (mist), and producing a terrifying sound (thunder).