Great Ming Military

Drawing of a Li Hua Qiang, from 'Chou Hai Tu Bian (《筹海图编》)'.

Li Hua Qiang (梨花鎗, lit. 'Pear blossom spear') is commonly thought to be the quintessential fire lance. However, it is actually very atypical for a fire lance-type weapon, as it mounts either a paper tube or reusable iron tube on its shaft instead of bamboo Pen Tong (噴筒) commonly found on other fire lances. Li Hua Qiang is also longer than most Chinese fire lances, as it is converted from a Chang Qiang (長鎗).


Zhao Shi Zhen's modified Li Hua Qiang

Zhao Shi Zhen's modified Li Hua Qiang, from 'Shen Qi Pu (《神器譜》)'.

Ming Dynasty firearm specialist Zhao Shi Zhen (趙士楨) also devised a modification for Li Hua Qiang. It is simply a Li Hua Qiang with two extra tube that are all connected to a single fuse. Zhao Shi Zhen's Li Hua Qiang can project a stream of flame for longer period than ordinary fire lances.