Records of Military? Armament: Fire. Illustrated Explanations of Firearms, Part 2

The Invincible Bamboo General

The "Invincible Bamboo General" (Wudi Zhu Jiangjun) was a large-bore firearm made from thick bamboo, reinforced with iron wire to prevent the barrel from bursting. It was valued for being lightweight and cheaper to produce than bronze or iron cannons.

Shape of the Loaded Projectile

This diagram illustrates the internal components of the explosive charge used with the weapon. It shows a sophisticated multi-layered design intended for both explosive force and shrapnel impact.

Wooden Lid
Stone ShotOriginal: shidan (石彈). These were rounded stones used as projectiles, common in early gunpowder warfare before the mass production of lead or iron balls.
Iron Lotus-pod FuseOriginal: tie lianfang xian (鐵蓮房綫). This likely refers to a specialized ignition assembly that branches out like the seeds in a lotus pod to ensure the gunpowder ignites evenly.
Bamboo TouchholeOriginal: zhu huomen (竹火門). The ignition port or "fire door" through which the fuse is inserted to reach the main charge.
GunpowderOriginal: huoyao (火藥), literally "fire medicine."
Yellow Clay
Used as a sealant or tamping material to compress the powder and direct the explosive force outward.
Polished Iron Wire
Used to wrap and reinforce the exterior of the bamboo casing or the projectile itself to withstand the pressure of the blast.