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Zhentianlei Bomb

Type Object Region China Time 1360–1370

The Zhentianlei was a metal-cased gunpowder bomb used in the late Yuan, far more powerful than earlier paper- or bamboo-wrapped charges, widely used …

Timeline

  1. 1361–1363Central Plains and northern city defense zones · North ChinaIn the late Yuan, defenders widely used Zhentianlei bombs with shells cast from pig iron or wrought iron, filled with gunpowder and iron shot, thrown by fuse or trebuchet; on explosion, fragments scattered in all directions, inflicting mass casualties on besieging forces.
  2. 1363–1367Jianghuai and Huguang battlefields · ChinaZhu Yuanzhang, Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng, and other powers all used Zhentianlei and similar iron fireballs in siege and defense battles, combining them with hand cannons and fire arrows to form the typical late Yuan firearms combination; battle examples are scattered through the History of Yuan, the Veritable Records of Ming Taizu, and other texts.
  3. 1368–1370Yingtian Prefecture (Nanjing) · JiangnanIn the early Ming, Zhentianlei-type iron-cased gunpowder bombs were included in the armory manufacturing catalog, used for the defense of the capital at Nanjing and for stockpiling in the various guards, becoming an important component of the early Ming explosive firearms equipment system.

Sources