The Chongtong (Hangul: 총통, Hanja: 銃筒) was a term for military firearms of Goryeo and Joseon dynasty. The size of chongtong varies from small firearm to large cannon, and underwent upgrades, which can be separated in three generation type. The well-known "Cheonja", "Jija", "Hyeonja", and "Hwangja" were named after the first four characters of the Thousand Character Classic in decreasing size, thus making them equivalent to Cannons A, B, C, and D.[1]
Three of the large chongtong in Jinju Fortress. The closest is a "Cheonja", the second is a "Jija", and the third is a "Hyeonja".
A page of the Korean Kukcho Orye-ui (ca. 1474) showing an early type of hand cannon (chhung thung or chongtong) and the bolt-like arrow and metal fins which was shot from it.
Gunpowder first came to Korea in the mid 14th century. From 1356 onwards Korea was much harassed by Japanese wo khou pirates, and the Goryeo king, Kongmin Wang, sent an envoy to the Ming court appealing for a supply of firearms. Although China at that time was under Yuan dynasty, the first Ming emperor, Chu Yuan-Chang seems to have treated the request kindly and responded in some measure. The Goryeosa mentions a certain type of bombard (ch'ong t'ong) which could send arrows from the Nam-kang hill to the south of the Sun-ch’on Sa temple with such force and velocity that they would penetrate completely into the ground together with their fins. In ca. 1372 Li Khang (or Li Yuan), a saltpetre expert (yen hsiao chiang), perhaps a merchant, came from South China to Korea, and he was befriended by the courtier Choi Muson. He asked him confidentially about the secrets of his mystery, and sent several of his retainers to learn his arts from him. Choi became the first Korean to manufacture gunpowder and gun barrels, all depending on Li Khang's transmission.[2]: 307 A royal inspection of a new fleet happened in 1373 including tests of guns with larger barrels for shooting incendiary arrows against the pirate ships.[2]: 309
In 1373 a new mission, led by Sang Sa-on was sent to the Chinese capital asking for urgent supplies of gunpowder. The Koreans had built special ships for repelling the Japanese pirates, and these needed gunpowder for their cannon. In the following year another request was made to the Ming emperor after the military camps at Happo were set ablaze by Japanese pirates, with over 5000 casualties. At first Thai Tsu was reluctant to supply powder and arms to the Koreans, but in the middle of 1374 he changed his mind, he also sent military officers to inspect the ships built by the Koreans. The Goryeosa records the first systematic manufacture of hand-cannons and bombards in Korea in ca. 1377, saying that the arsenal was directed by a "Fire-Barrel Superintendent" (Huo Thung Tu Chien).[2]: 309
During the mid 16th century the classic Cheonja, Jija, Hyeonja and Hwangja chongtong appeared. Earlier in the century, the bullanggi, a breech-loading swivel gun was introduced from Portugal via China.
In 1596, more improvements were made, and by this time (i.e. on the dawn of the Imjin War) the Seungja class of hand-cannons were phased out in favor of Japanese-style muskets and arquebuses. The Koreans called these jochong (조총/鳥銃).
During the 1650s, Hendrick Hamel and others were shipwrecked on Jejudo, introducing a Dutch cannon the Koreans called the hong'ipo, and used it alongside the native Korean cannons.
They were finally discontinued in the late 19th century when Joseon abolished the old-style army in favor of an army based on contemporary Western militaries.
CannonsEdit
Arrow of the same kind of the one above but larger, over 9 ft (2.7 m) long, with metal head and fins, shot from a similar type of gun. Seoul Museum.
Cheonja-ChongtongEdit
The 'Sky' or 'Heaven' (Hangul: 천자총통; Hanja: 天字銃筒) type cannon was the largest of the chongtong. Its length was about 1.3 m and the bore was about 13 cm. One of the projectiles it fired was a 30 kg 'daejanggunjeon', a large rocket-shaped arrow with an iron head and fins. The cheonja could fire one of these up to about 1.4 km.
Jija-ChongtongEdit
The 'Earth' (Hangul: 지자총통; Hanja: 地字銃筒) cannon was a little smaller, about 1 m long with a bore of about 10 cm. It could fire a 16.5 kg 'janggunjeon' (similar to the daejanggunjeon, only smaller) about 1 km.
Hyeonja-ChongtongEdit
The 'Black' (Hangul: 현자총통; Hanja: 玄字銃筒) type was about 0.8 m long with a bore of about 8 cm and could fire a 'chadajeon' (similar to the janggunjeon) that weighed about 3.5 kg up to about 1 to 2 km.
Hwangja-ChongtongEdit
The 'Yellow' (Hangul: 황자총통; Hanja: 黃字銃筒) was the smallest of the cannons. It resembled the European hand-cannon. Its bore was about 5 cm and shot a large arrow (similar to the chadaejeon) that weighed about 1.5 kg or four ordinary arrows at once which had a range of about 730 m.
Handheld gunsEdit
Se-ChongtongEdit
In 1432, the Joseon dynasty under the reign of Sejong the Great introduced a handgun named se-chongtong (세총통). Initially, Joseon considered the gun as a failed project due to its short effective range, but the weapon quickly proved to be effective in the frontier provinces, starting in June 1437. It was used by both soldiers of different units and civilians, including women and children, as a personal defense weapon. The gun was notably used by chetamja (체탐자, special reconnaissance), whose mission was to infiltrate enemy territory, and by carabiniers carrying multiple guns (a fact made possible by their compact size).[3][4][5]
Seungja-ChongtongEdit
The 'Victor' (Hangul: 승자총통; Hanja: 勝者銃筒) fired various small projectiles like pellets, bullets, arrows, arrows with war head, etc.
GalleryEdit
This Cheonja-chongtong is the largest size.
A jija-chongtong.
This Hyeonja-chongtong is middle sized cannon.
Byeolhwangja-chongtong, which was one of the smaller cannons.
A Hwangja-chongtong.
Seungja-chongtong, a hand cannon.
Other firearms used by Koreans in the 16th centuryEdit
^Turnbull, Stephen, "Fighting Ships of the Far East, Volume 2: Japan and Korea", Jan 25, 2003, p. 21.
^ abcNeedham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 5: Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 7, Military Technology: The Gunpowder Epic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
^"보물 세총통 (細銃筒) : 국가문화유산포털 - 문화재청". Heritage Portal : CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-02-25.
^【ENG SUB】세계최초 권총형 총통 '세총통' feat. 화력대왕 '세종' Se-Chongtong, the Smallest of Korean Hand Cannons, retrieved 2022-02-25
August 25, 2023
chongtong, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, 2013,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Chongtong news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Chongtong Hangul 총통 Hanja 銃筒 was a term for military firearms of Goryeo and Joseon dynasty The size of chongtong varies from small firearm to large cannon and underwent upgrades which can be separated in three generation type The well known Cheonja Jija Hyeonja and Hwangja were named after the first four characters of the Thousand Character Classic in decreasing size thus making them equivalent to Cannons A B C and D 1 Three of the large chongtong in Jinju Fortress The closest is a Cheonja the second is a Jija and the third is a Hyeonja ChongtongHangul총통Hanja銃筒Revised RomanizationchongtongMcCune Reischauerch ongt ong Contents 1 History 2 Cannons 2 1 Cheonja Chongtong 2 2 Jija Chongtong 2 3 Hyeonja Chongtong 2 4 Hwangja Chongtong 3 Handheld guns 3 1 Se Chongtong 3 2 Seungja Chongtong 4 Gallery 5 Other firearms used by Koreans in the 16th century 6 Similar weapons 7 See also 8 ReferencesHistory Edit Yuan dynasty hand cannon of 1351 AD A page of the Korean Kukcho Orye ui ca 1474 showing an early type of hand cannon chhung thung or chongtong and the bolt like arrow and metal fins which was shot from it Gunpowder first came to Korea in the mid 14th century From 1356 onwards Korea was much harassed by Japanese wo khou pirates and the Goryeo king Kongmin Wang sent an envoy to the Ming court appealing for a supply of firearms Although China at that time was under Yuan dynasty the first Ming emperor Chu Yuan Chang seems to have treated the request kindly and responded in some measure The Goryeosa mentions a certain type of bombard ch ong t ong which could send arrows from the Nam kang hill to the south of the Sun ch on Sa temple with such force and velocity that they would penetrate completely into the ground together with their fins In ca 1372 Li Khang or Li Yuan a saltpetre expert yen hsiao chiang perhaps a merchant came from South China to Korea and he was befriended by the courtier Choi Muson He asked him confidentially about the secrets of his mystery and sent several of his retainers to learn his arts from him Choi became the first Korean to manufacture gunpowder and gun barrels all depending on Li Khang s transmission 2 307 A royal inspection of a new fleet happened in 1373 including tests of guns with larger barrels for shooting incendiary arrows against the pirate ships 2 309 In 1373 a new mission led by Sang Sa on was sent to the Chinese capital asking for urgent supplies of gunpowder The Koreans had built special ships for repelling the Japanese pirates and these needed gunpowder for their cannon In the following year another request was made to the Ming emperor after the military camps at Happo were set ablaze by Japanese pirates with over 5000 casualties At first Thai Tsu was reluctant to supply powder and arms to the Koreans but in the middle of 1374 he changed his mind he also sent military officers to inspect the ships built by the Koreans The Goryeosa records the first systematic manufacture of hand cannons and bombards in Korea in ca 1377 saying that the arsenal was directed by a Fire Barrel Superintendent Huo Thung Tu Chien 2 309 During the reign of Taejong of Joseon improvements were made and still more were made by Sejong the Great in the 1440s During the mid 16th century the classic Cheonja Jija Hyeonja and Hwangja chongtong appeared Earlier in the century the bullanggi a breech loading swivel gun was introduced from Portugal via China In 1596 more improvements were made and by this time i e on the dawn of the Imjin War the Seungja class of hand cannons were phased out in favor of Japanese style muskets and arquebuses The Koreans called these jochong 조총 鳥銃 During the 1650s Hendrick Hamel and others were shipwrecked on Jejudo introducing a Dutch cannon the Koreans called the hong ipo and used it alongside the native Korean cannons They were finally discontinued in the late 19th century when Joseon abolished the old style army in favor of an army based on contemporary Western militaries Cannons Edit Arrow of the same kind of the one above but larger over 9 ft 2 7 m long with metal head and fins shot from a similar type of gun Seoul Museum Cheonja Chongtong Edit The Sky or Heaven Hangul 천자총통 Hanja 天字銃筒 type cannon was the largest of the chongtong Its length was about 1 3 m and the bore was about 13 cm One of the projectiles it fired was a 30 kg daejanggunjeon a large rocket shaped arrow with an iron head and fins The cheonja could fire one of these up to about 1 4 km Jija Chongtong Edit The Earth Hangul 지자총통 Hanja 地字銃筒 cannon was a little smaller about 1 m long with a bore of about 10 cm It could fire a 16 5 kg janggunjeon similar to the daejanggunjeon only smaller about 1 km Hyeonja Chongtong Edit The Black Hangul 현자총통 Hanja 玄字銃筒 type was about 0 8 m long with a bore of about 8 cm and could fire a chadajeon similar to the janggunjeon that weighed about 3 5 kg up to about 1 to 2 km Hwangja Chongtong Edit The Yellow Hangul 황자총통 Hanja 黃字銃筒 was the smallest of the cannons It resembled the European hand cannon Its bore was about 5 cm and shot a large arrow similar to the chadaejeon that weighed about 1 5 kg or four ordinary arrows at once which had a range of about 730 m Handheld guns EditSe Chongtong Edit In 1432 the Joseon dynasty under the reign of Sejong the Great introduced a handgun named se chongtong 세총통 Initially Joseon considered the gun as a failed project due to its short effective range but the weapon quickly proved to be effective in the frontier provinces starting in June 1437 It was used by both soldiers of different units and civilians including women and children as a personal defense weapon The gun was notably used by chetamja 체탐자 special reconnaissance whose mission was to infiltrate enemy territory and by carabiniers carrying multiple guns a fact made possible by their compact size 3 4 5 Seungja Chongtong Edit The Victor Hangul 승자총통 Hanja 勝者銃筒 fired various small projectiles like pellets bullets arrows arrows with war head etc Gallery Edit This Cheonja chongtong is the largest size A jija chongtong This Hyeonja chongtong is middle sized cannon Byeolhwangja chongtong which was one of the smaller cannons A Hwangja chongtong Seungja chongtong a hand cannon Other firearms used by Koreans in the 16th century EditSamchongtong Chongtongwan gu Janggunhwatong Ilchongtong Yichongtong Paljeonchongtong Sajeonchongtong Bullanggi breech loading swivel gun introduced from Europe via China Wan gu mortars BaekjachongSimilar weapons EditCetbang Javanese cannon adapted from the Yuan guns Bo hiya Japanese fire arrow Huochong Chinese hand cannon Bedil tombak Nusantaran hand cannonSee also EditList of artillery Korean cannon Hwacha Hongyipao Singijeon Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chongtong References Edit Turnbull Stephen Fighting Ships of the Far East Volume 2 Japan and Korea Jan 25 2003 p 21 a b c Needham Joseph 1986 Science and Civilisation in China Volume 5 Chemistry and Chemical Technology Part 7 Military Technology The Gunpowder Epic Cambridge Cambridge University Press 세총통 細銃筒 한국민족문화대백과사전 encykorea aks ac kr Retrieved 2022 02 25 보물 세총통 細銃筒 국가문화유산포털 문화재청 Heritage Portal CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION in Korean Retrieved 2022 02 25 ENG SUB 세계최초 권총형 총통 세총통 feat 화력대왕 세종 Se Chongtong the Smallest of Korean Hand Cannons retrieved 2022 02 25 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chongtong amp oldid 1105485305, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
