Huogong qieyao 火攻挈要

Huogong qieyao 火攻挈要 "All important matters of war with firearms" is a richly illustrated book on firearms written during the late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Jiao Xu 焦勖 (fl. 1643) and commented on by Zhao Zhong 趙仲. Jiao was instructed by the Jesuit missionary Adam Schall von Bell (1592-1666, Chinese name Tang Ruowang 湯若望). The book was finished in 1643 and is divided into two juan, and also includes a supplement called Huogong biyao 火攻秘要. There is a manuscript of this original version owned by the Beijing Library 北京圖書館. Another version is the revision by Pan Shicheng 潘士成 (1804-1873), editor of the series Haishanxianguan congshu 海山仙館叢書, who made the supplement simply a third fascicle. In some catalogues, the book's title is called Zekelu 則克錄 "Rules for defence".

The book presents 27 illustrations showing the loading and use of muskets and other firearms and facilities for casting cannons, a proficiency taught to Chinese craftsmen by Jesuit experts.

Figures 1-5. Illustrations from the Huogong qieyao 火攻挈要

Image of a barrel-casting platform (zhuchongtai 鑄銃臺). The three-dimensional perspective is not well caught. The centre seems to symbolize the opening (wojing 窩井) of the mould where the bronze is poured in. Haishanxianguan congshu 海山仙館叢書 edition.
A construction to apply and finish the bore of the barrel.
Various implements to load and clean a barrel (rammer 銃橇, worm or scourer 轉杖, broom or sponge 銃箒, linstock 火繩■, to the right: gunpowder ladle 藥鍬), as well as two guns ("high-[reaching] gun" 高機 and wolf gun" 狼機 with a "mother barrel" 母銃).
"Flame thrower" with grape shot (pentong 噴筒) and rocket (huojian 火箭).	Tool for positioning guns (chonggui 銃規).