Construction of the Fagong Cannon

The text is read from right to left, a common orientation in historical Chinese woodblock prints.

Fagong (發貢): A specific type of breech-loading artillery. original: "Fagong" (發貢). This term refers to a breech-loading swivel gun. These were highly advanced for their time, featuring a "sub-chamber" or separate breech block that could be pre-loaded with gunpowder and shot. This allowed for a much faster rate of fire compared to muzzle-loading cannons, as the gunners could simply swap out the chambers rather than cleaning and reloading the entire barrel from the front.

Construction (制): The design, manufacturing specifications, or system of a device.

The illustration on this page (described in the source) depicts the cannon barrel with its characteristic breech opening, resting upon a sturdy, four-wheeled wooden carriage. The carriage is elaborately carved, suggesting that these weapons were significant investments and prideful symbols of military power. The wheels allowed for the heavy cannon to be repositioned quickly on the battlefield or during a siege.