Huochong (simplified Chinese:火铳;traditional Chinese:火銃) was the Chinese name forhand cannons.[1] The oldest confirmed metalhuochong, also the firstcannon, is a bronze hand cannon bearing an inscription dating it to 1298 (seeXanadu gun).[2]
By the time of theMing Dynasty (1368–1644) two types ofhuochong were in use. One was a hand held version with a wooden shaft known as ashouchong (手銃) whilst the largerWankouchong (碗口銃 — bowl-mouthed cannon) orZhankouchong (盏口銃 — cup-mouthed cannon)[3] rested on a supporting wooden frame. It was invented presumably as an advance in warfare, a new way to fight.
The Wankou Chong,translated literally as bowl-muzzle gun (Chinese:碗口銃) was a type of Huochong gun used in the lateYuan and earlyMing dynasties.[4][5] The cannons normally contained black powder, a wooden block or frame to contain the powder, and a large cannonball or a group of smaller cannonballs. The cannon was most commonly used to protect Chinese ports and to defend against pirates.[6][7] The cannon faded out of use gradually due to its short barrel, slow rate of fire, and short range.
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