明末孙元化所著《西法神机》是一部介绍西方十六世纪有关火炮制造与使用方法的重要火器专著。该书内容与由西洋传教士汤若望(P.J.Adam Schall von Bell1591—1666)口授、宁国焦勖笔述的《火攻挈要》(又名《则克录》)大体相仿,成书时间也相近。但《火攻挈要》早就著称于世。孙元化（1581～1632）字初阳，号火东，上海川沙县高桥镇人，是西洋火炮专家。天启间举人。从徐光启学西洋火器法，孙承宗荐为兵部司务，在边筑台制炮，进兵部职方主事，崇祯初为职方郎中，三年以右佥都御史，巡抚登莱，五年叛将孔有德陷登州，被俘后放归。后遭首辅温体仁等诬陷，被冤杀。著有《经武主编》等。
Sun Yuanhua’s “The Secret of the West”, written in the late Ming Dynasty, is an important firearm monograph that introduces the methods of making and using artillery in the West in the 16th century. The content of the book is similar to that of Fire Attack Summary (also known as Zekelu), which was dictated by the Western missionary P.J. Adam Schall von Bell 1591-1666 and written by Ning Guo Jiao Xu. However, “Fire Attack Summaries” has long been famous in the world. Sun Yuanhua (1581~1632), who was born in Gaoqiao Town, Chuansha County, Shanghai, is an expert in western artillery. The apocalypse raised people. From Xu Guangqi to learn the Western Firearms Technique, Sun Chengzong recommended him as the head of the Ministry of Military Affairs, built a platform to make guns at the border, and served as the chief of the Ministry of Military Affairs. At the beginning of Chongzhen, he served as the doctor of the Ministry of Military Affairs. Three years later, he became the governor of the Imperial Court, the governor of Denglai, and five years later, the rebel general Kong Youde fell into Dengzhou, and was released after being captured. Later, he was framed by Shoufu Wen Tiren and killed wrongly. He is the author of Jingwu Editor in Chief.

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