Xun Lei Chong

The xun lei chong (simplified Chinese: 迅雷铳; traditional Chinese: 迅雷銃; literally: "Thundering fast firearm") is a revolving, spear combined musket invented by Zhao Shi-zhen(趙士禎) in the Ming dynasty.^[1]

For Zhao Shi-Zhen's radical design, he connected five thin gun barrels (based on the new Portuguese muskets) behind a reinforced shield: like the five thunder divine machine the gunner could rotate the fuse 72 degrees and swiftly light each barrel with his match. These weapons would serve as defensive weapons and be fired from walls or high positions like hillocks and ridges. They were recorded to be deadly at 120 paces.

The xun lei chong.

The central firing device is actually a combination of a detachable spear + five tubings + a firing mechanism, fitted together with interlocking grooves. The shield could be pulled off from the front and slung on the hand, the gun's rest is actually a double sided hand axe. 

Musketeer firing a xun lei chong.

References