Cannons appeared in Korea by the mid 14th century during the Goryeo and quickly proliferated as naval and fortress-defense weapons. Major developments occurred throughout the 15th century, including the introduction of large siege mortars as well as major improvements that drastically increased range, power, and accuracy.
The Imjin War in the 1590s marked the beginning of a Korean military revolution which saw improvements in cannon design and the introduction and adaptation of foreign-based firearms. This included the en masse adoption of muskets and the adoption of volley fire and rigorous drill techniques.
In the early 17th century, a Culverin called Hongyipao was introduced and used until the 19th century.
With the rising threat of European powers in the 19th century, the Joseon made attempts at reverse-engineering European firearms but eventually had to simply buy them from foreign entities.
Early history
The earliest possible references to firearms in Korea is to what might have been gunpowder-ignited flamethrowers in 1104 and explosive bombs in 1135.
The next reference is to a cannon which fired large arrows being tested for use on the northwestern frontier in 1356.
In 1373, King Gongmin visited a new fleet which was being constructed for use against the Wokou, including the firing of cannon. He then requested a shipment of cannon, gunpowder, and gunpowder ingredients from Ming, which was granted the following year.
However, these weapons were not produced locally and had to be secured from elsewhere.
Ch'oe Mu-sŏn, a minor military official, managed to learn the methods of potassium nitrate purification from a visiting Chinese saltpeter merchant.
A fleet of ships was trained in cannon use in 1378 and in 1380 saw its first use defeating a Wokou pirate near the mouth of the Geum River.[Turnbull, Stephen, "Fighting Ships of the Far East, Volume 2: Japan and Korea", January 25, 2003, p. 20.] Three years later in 1383 the Korean navy again defeated the Wokou with cannon.
By 1395, a number of weapons were in use: a series of cannons called the daejanggunpo, ijanggunpo, and samjanggunpo, a shell-firing mortar called the jillyeopo, series of yuhwa, juhwa, and chokcheonhwa rockets, which were the forerunners of the singijeon, and a signal gun called the shinpo.[Pak, Song-nae, "Science and Technology in Korean History: Excursions, Innovations, and Issues", December 30, 2005, pp 78-79.]
In 1410, Korea had 160 ships equipped with gunpowder artillery.
Joseon era cannons
Early Joseon (early to mid 15th century)
During Taejong's rule, improvements were made. Among the people responsible for the developments was Ch'oe Hae-san, the son of the aforementioned Ch'oe Mu-sŏn. The
cheon "heaven" or "sky",
ji "earth",
hyeon "black", and
hwang "yellow" or "gold" names are not significant, being the first four characters of the Thousand Character Classic, thus making them equivalent to Cannons A, B, C, and D.
[Turnbull, Stephen, "Fighting Ships of the Far East, Volume 2: Japan and Korea", Jan 25, 2003, p. 21.] The following is a list some of the main cannons (called
hwapo "fire gourd") of this time period:
[http://sillok.history.go.kr/viewer/viewtype1.jsp?id=kda_12703030_001&grp=&aid=&sid=4875529&pos=4; the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty in Korean.]
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The cheonja-hwapo "heaven" or "sky" (천자화포/天字火砲), with a maximum range of about (400-500 bo).
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The jija-hwapo "earth" (지자화포/地字火砲), with a maximum range of about (500 bo) with an arrow or dart.
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The hyeonja-hwapo "black" (현자화포/玄字火砲), with a maximum range of about (500 bo) with an arrow or dart.
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The hwangja-hwapo "yellow" or "gold" (황자화포/黃字火砲), with a maximum range of about (500 bo).
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The gaja-hwapo (가자화포/架子火砲), with a maximum range of about (200-300 bo).
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The se-hwapo "slender" or "small" (세화포/細火砲), with a maximum range of about (200 bo). This was a very small hand-cannon which functioned as a pistol or a cavalry weapon.
Written records for cannons of this era come from the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty .
Early Mid Joseon (mid 15th century to mid 16th century)
The small-but-powerful cannons of this era saw extensive use during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–98), by both the Joseon Army and the Navy. They were very effective against the weaker-built Japanese ships.
Sejong made many improvements, and increased the ranges of these cannons (called hwapo and later hwatong "fire tube" and chongtong "gun tube"):
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The cheonja-hwapo (천자화포/天字火砲), with a maximum range of about (1300 bo) with an arrow or dart, and about (1000 bo) with four arrows or darts, with less powder. This later came to be called the janggun-hwatong "general fire tube" (장군화통).
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The jija-hwapo (지자화포/地字火砲), with a maximum range of about (800-900 bo) with an arrow or dart, and about (600-700 bo) with four arrows or darts, with equal powder. Later called the il-chongtong "first chongtong" (일총통).
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The hyeonja-hwapo (현자화포/玄字火砲) is not mentioned among the improved cannons. This was later called the i-chongtong "second chongtong" (이총통).
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The hwangja-hwapo (황자화포/黃字火砲), with a maximum range of about (800 bo) with an arrow or dart, and about (500 bo) with four arrows or darts with equal powder. This was later called the sam-chongtong "third chongtong" (삼총통).
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The gaja-hwapo (가자화포/架子火砲), with a maximum range of about (600 bo) with an arrow or dart, and about (400 bo) with four arrows or darts with equal powder.
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The se-hwapo (세화포/細火砲), with a maximum range of about (600 bo) with an arrow or dart with equal powder. This gun was about long and had a bore of about .
In the early 1500s, the
bullanggi (불랑기/佛狼機), a breech-loading swivel gun, was introduced to Korea from Portugal via China. It was divided into sizes 1 through 5, in decreasing size. There was also a mortar of this period called the
chongtong-wan'gu.
Written records of these cannons come from the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty and the Gukjo Orye Seorye (), published in 1474.
Late Mid Joseon (late 16th century to late 18th century)
Improvements were made on the earlier designs.
The following is a list of some of the cannons:
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cheonja-chongtong (천자총통/天字銃筒)
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jija-chongtong (지자총통/地字銃筒)
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hyeonja-chongtong (현자총통/玄字銃筒)
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hwangja-chongtong (황자총통/黃字銃筒)
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byeorhwangja-chongtong (별황자총통)
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The Hongyipao () Hongi cannon was introduced to Joseon in 1630 when an envoy dispatched to the Ming Dynasty brought a set and samples of cannons. And during the Byeongja Horan Namhansanseong was attacked by the Qing Dynasty, which brought Hongipo from the Ming Dynasty. Later, in the 1650s, it began to be produced in earnest by the Dutchmen Hendrick Hamel and Jan Jansz Weltevree.
Mortars used during this period:
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Byeoldae-wan'gu (별대완구)
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Dae-wan'gu (대완구/大碗口)
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Jung-wan'gu (중완구/中碗口)
Written records for this period are the Shin'gi Bigyeol (신기비결) in 1603, Hwagi Dogam Uigye (화기도감의궤) in 1615, and Hwaposhik Eonhae (화포식언해) in 1635.
Late Joseon (Late Mid 19th century)
Written records from this time period come from the
Yungwon Pilbi (융원필비) in 1813 and the
Hun'guk Shinjo Gun'gi Doseol (훈국신조군기도설) in 1867.
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Hongyipao
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bullanggi
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Daepo was a bronze muzzle-loading cannon made in 1874
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Jungpo was a bronze muzzle-loading cannon made in 1874 with a caliber of .
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Sopo was a bronze muzzle-loading cannon made in 1874 with a caliber of .
Operation and projectiles
A unique method of loading the Koreans (and the Chinese, to some extent) was that they used a block of wood (
gyeongmok) and some paper as a wad. This increased range, power, and possibly accuracy. Then, jolanhwan (조란환/iron shot) and sand were repeatedly placed on top of it, and finally a cannonball covered with lead was loaded.
Cannonballs of stone ( danseok) or iron ( cheoltanja), iron shot (sometimes in conjunction with arrows) were used, but a large wooden dart with iron fins (leather for the smaller types) and head was preferred.[Turnbull, Stephen, "Fighting Ships of the Far East, Volume 2: Japan and Korea", January 25, 2003, p 21.][Books, Amber, Joregensen, Christer, Niderost, Eric, Rice, Bob S. "Fighting Techniques of the Oriental World: Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics", December 9, 2008, p 201.] These were more accurate.
The Mortars used for sieges fired bombs called stone balls or Bigyeokjincheolloe(비격진천뢰/飛擊震天雷). Like the Coehorn, this one was equipped with a primitive Time fuse, so the fuse would light when fired and explode after a certain period of time when it fell to the ground.
See also
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List of firearms before the 20th century
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Artillery of Japan
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Hwacha
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Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)
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Panokseon
Citations
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Kim, Jung Jin (). The Turtle Ship: From Legend to History. Joongang, Seoul: Random House Publishing. pp. 48–51.
External links
