Wooden Cannons

Records of Military Armament, Volume 22

Illustrated Explanations of Firearms, Part 2

Page 6

The shells are cast from molten pig ironOriginal: "shengtie." In Ming Dynasty metallurgy, brittle pig iron was preferred for explosive shells because it shattered into many sharp, lethal fragments upon detonation, unlike softer wrought iron.. Within these shells are hidden "divine smoke" and specialized gunpowder formulasOriginal: "fayao." Literally "formula medicine" or "ritual powder," referring to specific chemical mixtures designed for various effects like smoke, poison, or intense heat.. Using a mother cannon The "mother cannon" refers to the larger artillery piece, such as the wooden mortar described in this section, used to launch these explosive sub-munitions. to launch them into the enemy’s ranks, the fuse ignites and the shell shatters with a roar like a clap of thunder.

Flames burst forth and the iron fragments of the shell fly out, striking with a force as powerful as lead bullets. Both men and horses are wounded by the blast. If one seizes this opportunity to charge, victory is certain. Depending on whether the tactical goal is to capture the enemy alive or to strike them dead, different charges may be used according to the situation.

One variety utilizes Poisonous Fire and Divine Sand original: "duhuo shensha"; likely an incendiary mixture containing irritants like arsenic to blind or choke the enemy; another uses Blazing Fire and Porcelain Shards original: "liehuo cifeng"; porcelain was frequently used as a cheap and readily available form of sharp shrapnel; another employs Flying Fire and Divine Smoke original: "feihuo shenyan"; an incendiary device designed to create obscuring or toxic smoke screens; another utilizes Divine Fire and Divine Blades original: "shenhuo shendao"; shells packed with small blades or caltrops to cause foot and leg injuries; another uses Ritual Fire and Divine Smoke original: "fayao shenyan"; referencing specialized chemical mixtures meant to produce psychological or chemical effects; and yet another u...