Chapter 264

During the late Ming Dynasty, naval weapons were generally categorized into three types. Close-quarters weapons included iron scythes, bamboo pole spears, grappling hooks, and shields. Mid-range projectile weapons included pear-head darts, javelins, and iron arrows. Long-range and miscellaneous weapons were more numerous, including cannons, Frankish guns, handguns, bows and crossbows, poison felt, firework paper balls, flamethrower tubes, and Nine-Dragon boxes. The iron scythe was a large blade used to hook and sever enemy ship rigging or to grapple and kill enemies. The bamboo pole spear was made from a bamboo rod; similar in length to a lance, it was tipped with iron for stabbing. Grappling hooks were used during boarding to latch onto enemy ships, preventing them from breaking away. Javelins and iron arrows were used as thrown projectiles.