Hongyipao

Hongyipao (Chinese: 紅夷炮/紅衣炮; pinyin: hóngyípào; lit. 'red barbarian cannon/red coat cannon'; Vietnamese: hồng di pháo) was the Chinese name for Portuguese-style muzzle-loading culverins introduced to China and Korea from the Portuguese colony of Macau and with the help of Portuguese diplomats and advisors in the Beijing imperial Court like João Rodrigues.

Name

The term "red barbarian cannon" comes probably from the huge burst of red fire produced by the explosion when fired, while the term barbarian was how the Portuguese were known since their arrival in southern China and Japan in the 16th century. The cannons were originally produced by the Portuguese at Macau in the largest cannon production center in the Far East, founded by António Bocarro

The Jurchens renamed the "red barbarian cannon" to "red coat cannon" (Chinese: 紅衣炮; pinyin: hóngyīpào) when it entered their arsenal because they found the term "barbarian" to be insulting, and were known as such in the Manchu Eight Banners.

History

Breech loading swivel cannons from Portugal entered the Chinese weaponry after a Ming fleet defeated the Portuguese at the Battle of Xicaowan in 1521 and captured their guns as war booty. However it's possible that individuals in China had been able to purchase Portuguese style cannons even earlier from pirates.

Several Ming officials who supported the use of the new technology were Christian converts of the Jesuit mission, such as the influential minister Xu Guangqi and Sun Yuanhua in Shandong. After the defeat at the Battle of Sarhu, the Chinese approached the Portuguese for military assistance. In 1623, the Portuguese signed a contract with two Chinese to cast iron cannon at Macau. Macau became a source of European style cannons, with the Portuguese providing expertise in the bronze cannons and the Chinese in the iron cannons.