Zhao Shizhen (1554-1611) was an expert in firearms during the Ming Dynasty in China. The character is Changji and the name is Houhu. From Leqing, Zhejiang. Nephew Zhao Jin. His inventions such as “Rocket Slide”, “Electric Gun”, and “Eagle Flying Cannon” played a powerful role in the anti Japanese war at that time. His books such as “The Manual of Divine Weapons” and “The Instrument for Preparing Border Garrison Vehicles and Guns” were highly praised by the famous British scholar Joseph Needham.
Zhao Shizhen, also known as Zhao Changji, was born in the Ming Dynasty ethnic group Han in Leqing, Zhejiang. Born in 1554, passed away in 1611. His main work, “The Divine Weapon Manual,” was the invention of firearms such as the Thunderbolt Gun, the Electric Gun, and the Rocket Slide.
brief introduction
In the history of the development of firearms in the Ming Dynasty, a large number of figures who made outstanding contributions to the production and manufacturing of firearms emerged, and their influence on the development and progress of firearms cannot be underestimated.
Zhao Shizhen, a prominent figure during the Wanli reign of Emperor Shenzong of Ming Dynasty. He has modified various firearms, and the ones he has modified are more practical and more lethal. In the 26th year of the Wanli reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (1598), Zhao Shizhen imitated the Lu Mi gun from the Western Regions to make a new type of firearm, improved the firing device, and installed a steel knife at the end of the gun bed. In close combat, it was used as a horse chopping sword. In the same year, Zhao Shizhen also invented the Thunder Gun, which is characterized by rotary firing. In the same year, Zhao Shizhen referred to the Western bird gun and the Buddhist mechanism to create the electric gun. This type of firearm adopts the rear mounted gun style, with a total of 5 guns, each 6 inches long. The sub gun is pre loaded and takes turns being loaded into the barrel during combat, resulting in a significantly faster shooting speed.
Zhao Shizhen also invented a rocket launcher, which is shaped like a short gun and has a chute above it. It can launch rockets in the specified direction, avoiding deviation during operation and increasing the accuracy of rocket shooting.
Life history
Zhao Shizhen is ambitious, talented in both literature and martial arts, skilled in writing and poetry, and fond of discussing military affairs. Once, while traveling to the capital, I accidentally wrote a poem on a fan, which was obtained by eunuchs and presented to the Emperor of Shenzong, which was highly praised. In the sixth year of the Wanli reign (1578), he was awarded the title of “Chief Register of Honglu Temple” through the use of good calligraphy.
Shi Zhen has a simple and casual nature, and is upright and upright, so he has been in a lower position for a long time and cannot be promoted. The chief clerk of Honglu Temple, who held the eighth rank, worked for 18 years until the 24th year of the Wanli reign (1596) when he was promoted to the position of Zhongshu Sheren, who held the seventh rank.
Shizhen grew up on the seaside and had little experience with Japanese invasion. He was well aware of the importance of strengthening national defense and improving weapons and equipment, and was determined to develop excellent firearms and equipment for the military to defend the country and protect the people. He conducted in-depth investigations into the use of firearms and extensively visited firearms experts and Japanese military commanders. In the 24th year of the Wanli reign, he saw the Western spear at Chen Yin, a guerrilla general from Wenzhou, and was deeply inspired. At that time, a Turkish named Dosima lived in Beijing. Shi Zhen learned that he was an official in charge of firearms in Türkiye, and he came to the door for advice. Duosi Mahjong showed Shi Zhen his own collection of bird spears and explained in detail the manufacturing and usage methods. In this way, Shi Zhen collected and accumulated a large amount of information and experience in the development of firearms.
In the 25th year of the Wanli reign, Shizhen presented the emperor with the article “The Eight Harms of Military Use”, suggesting the production of a fanniao gun. After being discussed by the Ministry of War and entrusted to the trial production of the Beijing Camp, officials from the Beijing Camp came to seek his advice. He was afraid that the production of the Beijing Camp would not be as good as the law, so he invested his own funds (in a memorial, he stated that “Yu Jin sat scattered and disregarded”), and asked Duo Sima to assist in summoning craftsmen for trial production. Finally, in the 26th year of the Wanli era, four types of firearms were developed. Among them, the “Dian Gun” and “Xun Lei Gun” were the latest firearms at that time, and the former had the advantages of both Western and Buddhist firearms, The latter also has the strengths of the bird spear and the three eyed spear.
More than ten aircraft were manufactured in the first batch. Shi Zhen drew patterns on seven of them and wrote an article detailing their structure, manufacturing method, and laying posture, which he submitted to the emperor. This pattern and text is the “Divine Weapon Manual”. Afterwards, Shizhen continued to strive for excellence. The Xunlei Gun, which was introduced in the 26th year of the Wanli era, can only fire five rounds in a row. By the 30th year of the Wanli era, the improved Xunlei Gun, known as’ Zhan Han Lian Huo Lian ‘, can fire eighteen rounds in one go. After further improvement, it can fire twenty-eight to thirty rounds, or even more than 40 rounds in a row.
In June of the 30th year of the Wanli reign, the firearm developed by Shi Zhen was tested in the western city of Xuanwumen outside Beijing. The experiment was presided over by the Minister of Justice, Xiao Daheng, and officials from departments such as the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works also participated. The joint examination report suggested that the emperor send the style of the chariot and spear made by Tuzhen to the capital camp, and make them according to the law. The officials ordered to teach and perform them, and spread them to all sides, in order to investigate their use in preventing border prisoners; The report also requested the emperor to reward Shi Zhen for his deeds of “paying attention to the day and night, dedicating all his resources to manufacture sharp tools, and using them with ease”.
Afterwards, Shizhen borrowed from the Japanese use of the Big Bird Gun and invented the “Eagle Flying Cannon”. This new type of firearm has superior performance with great power and high hit rate, surpassing the Japanese Big Bird Gun. He also invented the “rocket skate”, which is a milestone in the history of Chinese rocket development.
Although Zhao Shizhen’s career was bumpy, he lived a poor life. Hometown poet He Bai exclaimed that “the walls of dry gold are scattered, and the autumn wind is rustling, lying in the literary garden.” However, his brilliant achievements in the development of firearms, such as his works such as “The Manual of Divine Weapons” and “The Discussion on the Preparation of Border Garrison Vehicles and Guns,” have made great contributions to the country and shine brightly for thousands of years. Professor Wang Zhongmin ranks him alongside Li Shizhen, Xing Yunlu, Song Yingxing, Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao, Wang Zheng, and others, and considers him a scientist who has summarized traditional Chinese science. Joseph Needham, a British scholar, also spoke highly of the position of Zhao Shizhen’s Divine Instrument Manual in China’s history of science and technology.
He has authored works such as “Shenqi Pu”, “Continuation Shenqi Pu”, “Shenqi Pu or Wen”, and “Bian Tuntian Che Gun Yi”, among which there are 24 types of firearm patterns.