The oldest extant gun bearing a date of production is the Xanadu Gun, so called because it was discovered in the ruins of Xanadu (Shangdu), the summer palace of the Yuan dynasty in Inner Mongolia, China. The Xanadu Gun is 34.7 cm (13.7 in) in length and weighs 6.21 kg (13.7 lb), its muzzle is flared outwards, slightly bowl-shape, and called by Chinese as 碗口铳 (Wǎn kǒu chòng).[1] Its dating is based on archaeological context and a straightforward inscription containing an era name and year that correspond with the Gregorian Calendar at 1298. Not only does the inscription contain the era name and date, it also includes a serial number and manufacturing information which suggests that gun production had already become systematized, or at least become a somewhat standardized affair by the time of its fabrication. The design of the gun includes axial holes in its rear which some speculate could have been used in a mounting mechanism. Like most early guns with the possible exception of the Western Xia gun (the Wuwei bronze cannon), it is small, weighing just over 6 kg (13 lb) and 35 cm (14 in) in length.[2] Although the Xanadu Gun is the most precisely dated gun from the 13th century, other extant samples with approximate dating may be older.
Andrade, Tonio (2016), The gunpowder age: China, military innovation, and the rise of the west in world history, Princeton University Press, ISBN978-0-691-13597-7.
January 01, 1970
xanadu, oldest, extant, bearing, date, production, called, because, discovered, ruins, xanadu, shangdu, summer, palace, yuan, dynasty, inner, mongolia, china, length, weighs, muzzle, flared, outwards, slightly, bowl, shape, called, chinese, 碗口铳, wǎn, kǒu, chòn. The oldest extant gun bearing a date of production is the Xanadu Gun so called because it was discovered in the ruins of Xanadu Shangdu the summer palace of the Yuan dynasty in Inner Mongolia China The Xanadu Gun is 34 7 cm 13 7 in in length and weighs 6 21 kg 13 7 lb its muzzle is flared outwards slightly bowl shape and called by Chinese as 碗口铳 Wǎn kǒu chong 1 Its dating is based on archaeological context and a straightforward inscription containing an era name and year that correspond with the Gregorian Calendar at 1298 Not only does the inscription contain the era name and date it also includes a serial number and manufacturing information which suggests that gun production had already become systematized or at least become a somewhat standardized affair by the time of its fabrication The design of the gun includes axial holes in its rear which some speculate could have been used in a mounting mechanism Like most early guns with the possible exception of the Western Xia gun the Wuwei bronze cannon it is small weighing just over 6 kg 13 lb and 35 cm 14 in in length 2 Although the Xanadu Gun is the most precisely dated gun from the 13th century other extant samples with approximate dating may be older Shangdu huochong 1298 See also editGunpowder weapons in the Song dynasty Military of the Yuan dynasty Wuwei Bronze Cannon late Western Xia 1214 1227 Heilongjiang hand cannon circa 1287 1288 Huo Chong Chinese term for hand cannon Hu Dun Pao a term refers to cannon and trebuchet References edit The World s Earliest Cannon 世界上最早的火炮 in Chinese Archived from the original on July 23 2011 Retrieved November 18 2010 Andrade 2016 p 52 53 Bibliography editAndrade Tonio 2016 The gunpowder age China military innovation and the rise of the west in world history Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0 691 13597 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Xanadu Gun amp oldid 1174219599, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
