Huochong
Huochong was the Chinese name for hand cannons. The oldest confirmed metal huochong, also the first cannon, is a bronze hand cannon bearing an inscription dating it to 1298.
By the time of the Ming Dynasty two types of huochong were in use. One was a hand held version with a wooden shaft known as a shouchong whilst the larger Wankouchong or Zhankouchong rested on a supporting wooden frame.It was invented presumably as an advance in warfare, a new way to fight.
