Bedil tombak or bedil tumbak is a type of early firearm from the Indonesian archipelago. The weapon consists of a gun or small cannon mounted on a wooden pole, forming a type of weapon known as " pole gun" (stangenbüchse in German). [1]: 256
The word bedil is a term in the Malay and Javanese language meaning gun (any type of gun, from small pistol to large siege gun). [2] The word tombak or tumbak means spear, pike, or lance. [3]: 81
The introduction of gunpowder-based weapons in the Nusantara archipelago can be traced back to the Mongol invasion of Java (1293), where the Chinese-Mongol troops used cannon ( 炮—Pào) against the forces of Kediri in Daha. [4]: 1–2 [5] [6]: 244–245 [7]: 220 Between the 14th–15th century, there are local sources mentioned about bedil (gun or gunpowder-based weapon), but since this is a broad term caution must be taken to identify what type of weapon used in a passage. [8] [9] A small hand-gun dated from the year 1340 thought to be Chinese was found in Java, but the dating may have been wrong. [6]: 275
Ma Huan ( Zheng He's translator) visited Majapahit in 1413 and took notes about the local customs. His book, Yingya Shenlan, explained about Javanese marriage ceremony: when the husband was escorting his new wife to the marital home, various instruments were sounded, including gongs, drums, and huochong (fire-tube or hand cannon). [10] [11]: 245 It is probable that the Javanese hand cannon is modeled after Chinese ones. A Chinese pole cannon from 1421 A.D. has been found in the island of Java bearing the name of Emperor Yongle (1403–1425). [11]: 245 The gun's ignition hole is protected from the rain by a cover connected with a hinge. [1]: 256
Haiguo Guangji (海国广记) and Shuyu zhouzi lu (殊域周咨錄) recorded that Java is vast and densely populated, and their armored soldiers and hand cannons (火銃—huǒ chòng) dominated the Eastern Seas. [12]: 755 [13] [14]
Duarte Barbosa recorded the abundance of gunpowder-based weapons in Java ca. 1514. The Javanese were deemed as expert gun casters and good artillerymen. The weapon made there include one-pounder cannons, long muskets, spingarde (arquebus), schioppi (hand cannon), Greek fire, guns (cannons), and other fire-works. [15]: 254 [16] [6]: 224 In the 1511 siege of Malacca, the Malays were using cannons, matchlock guns, and "firing tubes". [17]: 146–147 The gunpowder weapons of Malacca were not made by the Malay people but were imported from Java. [18]: 3–4 [19]: 97–98
Local babad (historical text) of the post-17th century occasionally mention bedil tombak. [20] In Lombok example of such babads were babad Lombok, babad Mengui, and babad Sakra. [21]: 93–96 [22]: 79, 83 [23] They are also mentioned in Sundanese and Balinese texts. [24]: 103 [25]: 128 During the Bali-Lombok war (ca. early 19th century–end of 19th century), a part of Karangasem troops were armed with bedil tombak. [23]
《海国广记·爪哇制度》有文字,知星历。其国地广人稠,甲兵火铳为东洋诸番之雄。其俗尚气好斗,生子一岁,便以匕首佩之。刀极精巧,名日扒刺头,以金银象牙雕琢人鬼为靶。男子无老幼贫富皆佩,若有争置,即拔刀相刺,盖杀人当时拿获者抵死,逃三日而出,则不抵死矣。
其國地廣人稠,甲兵火銃,為東洋諸番之雄。其俗尚氣好鬥。
《海國廣記》記載,爪哇「甲兵火銃為東洋諸蕃之冠」。
Bedil tombak or bedil tumbak is a type of early firearm from the Indonesian archipelago. The weapon consists of a gun or small cannon mounted on a wooden pole, forming a type of weapon known as " pole gun" (stangenbüchse in German). [1]: 256
The word bedil is a term in the Malay and Javanese language meaning gun (any type of gun, from small pistol to large siege gun). [2] The word tombak or tumbak means spear, pike, or lance. [3]: 81
The introduction of gunpowder-based weapons in the Nusantara archipelago can be traced back to the Mongol invasion of Java (1293), where the Chinese-Mongol troops used cannon ( 炮—Pào) against the forces of Kediri in Daha. [4]: 1–2 [5] [6]: 244–245 [7]: 220 Between the 14th–15th century, there are local sources mentioned about bedil (gun or gunpowder-based weapon), but since this is a broad term caution must be taken to identify what type of weapon used in a passage. [8] [9] A small hand-gun dated from the year 1340 thought to be Chinese was found in Java, but the dating may have been wrong. [6]: 275
Ma Huan ( Zheng He's translator) visited Majapahit in 1413 and took notes about the local customs. His book, Yingya Shenlan, explained about Javanese marriage ceremony: when the husband was escorting his new wife to the marital home, various instruments were sounded, including gongs, drums, and huochong (fire-tube or hand cannon). [10] [11]: 245 It is probable that the Javanese hand cannon is modeled after Chinese ones. A Chinese pole cannon from 1421 A.D. has been found in the island of Java bearing the name of Emperor Yongle (1403–1425). [11]: 245 The gun's ignition hole is protected from the rain by a cover connected with a hinge. [1]: 256
Haiguo Guangji (海国广记) and Shuyu zhouzi lu (殊域周咨錄) recorded that Java is vast and densely populated, and their armored soldiers and hand cannons (火銃—huǒ chòng) dominated the Eastern Seas. [12]: 755 [13] [14]
Duarte Barbosa recorded the abundance of gunpowder-based weapons in Java ca. 1514. The Javanese were deemed as expert gun casters and good artillerymen. The weapon made there include one-pounder cannons, long muskets, spingarde (arquebus), schioppi (hand cannon), Greek fire, guns (cannons), and other fire-works. [15]: 254 [16] [6]: 224 In the 1511 siege of Malacca, the Malays were using cannons, matchlock guns, and "firing tubes". [17]: 146–147 The gunpowder weapons of Malacca were not made by the Malay people but were imported from Java. [18]: 3–4 [19]: 97–98
Local babad (historical text) of the post-17th century occasionally mention bedil tombak. [20] In Lombok example of such babads were babad Lombok, babad Mengui, and babad Sakra. [21]: 93–96 [22]: 79, 83 [23] They are also mentioned in Sundanese and Balinese texts. [24]: 103 [25]: 128 During the Bali-Lombok war (ca. early 19th century–end of 19th century), a part of Karangasem troops were armed with bedil tombak. [23]
《海国广记·爪哇制度》有文字,知星历。其国地广人稠,甲兵火铳为东洋诸番之雄。其俗尚气好斗,生子一岁,便以匕首佩之。刀极精巧,名日扒刺头,以金银象牙雕琢人鬼为靶。男子无老幼贫富皆佩,若有争置,即拔刀相刺,盖杀人当时拿获者抵死,逃三日而出,则不抵死矣。
其國地廣人稠,甲兵火銃,為東洋諸番之雄。其俗尚氣好鬥。
《海國廣記》記載,爪哇「甲兵火銃為東洋諸蕃之冠」。