부산광역시 서구청 영문 스킵네비게이션

The small bronze gun was manufactured in 1583 during the mid-Joseon Dynasty, the 16th year into King Seonjong’s reign. The Ssangja Chongtong Gun is Joseon’s first double barrel gun inspired by a single-loading Seungja Chongtong Gun developed in 1579 by Kim Ji who served as Naval Commander of Left Jeolla-do and Commander of Gyeongsang-do. The cannon has two barrels, one of the two typed that remain to this day along with the Ssanghyeol Chongtong Gun with Inscription “Garipo” held at the National Museum of Korea.

The gun is comprised of three parts; the barrel, powder chamber, and grip. Each barrel is 33.4 ㎝ and cylindrical. The exterior is stylized in the shape of a bamboo tree. The grip is 6㎝ long and also cylindrical and can be fitted with a wooden handle. There is a hole for a nail to fix the handle in place. The grip and powder chamber is blocked in between. The following 29 letters are engraved around the grip. 萬曆癸未八月 日 雙字五斤二兩 匠徐加 每穴線一寸半 藥二 式 丸二式

To shoot this cannon, a wick must be placed into the touch hole with a set amount of cannon powder in the chamber, pressed down with dirt. The bullet is inserted from the muzzle. When the target is in range, the wick is set on fire to ignite. While the Seungja Chongtong Guns could shoot one round at a time, Ssangja Seungja Chongtong Guns could shoot up to six times, with three rounds from each of its two barrels. Despite its advantages, the cannon could not be used in rain, wind, or snow and has a limited range due to its short barrel.

After the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, matchlock guns replaced Seungja Chongtong Guns, using the percussion lock from muskets used by the Japanese army. The Ssangja Chongtong Guns shows the transition of a single-loading cannon to a double-barrel cannon and is an excellent example of the development of firearms during the Joseon Dynasty.