Image: A bowl-mouthed cannon found in Java, from Julian Permata colllection
Description: A Chinese-style cannon found in Java, made of bronze and weighs about 15 kg. It is presumably owned by Yuan dynasty and brought to Java during the 1293 Mongol invasion of Java. However, its shape is similar to a Javanese cannon found in Majalengka, save for the shape of the mouth, which similar to a bowl. If this was a Javanese cannon adapted from Mongol weaponry, it would be a copy of Chinese wankouchong (碗口銃 — bowl-mouthed cannon). Wankouchong normally contained black powder, a wooden block or frame to contain the powder, and a large cannonball or a group of smaller cannonballs. They have a short barrel length and can be used in high-angle fire (fired like a mortar), and can be loaded with both stone balls and bombs. The cannon was most commonly used to protect Chinese ports and to defend against pirates. 《明会典》: 毒火飞炮 “用熟铁造，似盏口将军，内装火药十两有余，盏口内盛生铁飞炮，□筒内装□硫毒药五两，药线总缚一处，点火，大炮先响，将飞炮打於二百步外爆碎伤人” 《Minghuidian》 records: Duhuofeipao is a bomb that is launched by Wankouchong. In order to launch this bomb, Wankouchong needs to be filled with about 370g of gunpowder, and the bomb itself contains about 190g of gunpowder and poison. This bomb can be launched more than 300 meters away. There is also a version mounted on wooden frame: 《兵錄卷之十二》（1630年）: 碗口铳，用凳为架，上架活盘，以铳嵌入两头。打过一铳又打一铳。放时，以铳口内衔大石弹，照准贼船底膀，平水面打去，以碎其船,最为便利 《Binglu Volume 12》 （1630 CE）: The Wankouchong uses a bench as a frame, on top of which is a moveable tray. Iron is embedded on both sides. When one barrel is shot, the other barrel shoots. During the time of shooting, the mouth holds a great stone cannonball within. When fired at the lower part of the bandit's ship at the water surface, it will smash the ship. It is most advantageous.
Title: A bowl-mouthed cannon found in Java, from Julian Permata colllection
Credit: Own work
Author: Surijeal
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes
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