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Bingzhang Ju (Bureau of Arms)

Type Object Region China Time 1368–1644

One of the 24 bureaus of the Ming inner court, under the Directorate of Palace Services, manufacturing swords, spears, bows, crossbows, armor, and ba…

Timeline

  1. 1368–1402Nanjing · JiangsuIn the early Ming, the Bingzhang Ju was established under the Directorate of Palace Services, supervised by eunuchs, responsible for manufacturing and storing imperial arms, forming an inner-outer division of labor with the nationwide weapons production managed by the Ministry of Works.
  2. 1421–1430Beijing · North ChinaAfter the Yongle relocation of the capital, the Bingzhang Ju moved with it to Beijing, supplying bows, crossbows, firearm components, and ceremonial arms to the Three Great Camps and the palace guards, becoming the core workshop for arming the capital armies.
  3. 1450–1644Beijing Bingzhang Ju · BeijingIn the mid-to-late Ming, besides traditional cold weapons, the Bingzhang Ju also participated in the manufacture and repair of firearm components; working alongside the other arms bureaus, it formed the inner court's arms production system.

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