元人苏天爵选编的《国朝文类》记载说:元代的军器,“其精者有西域炮、折叠弩,皆前世所未闻”。“西域炮”也叫“回回炮”,是元代对西域伊斯兰国家一种发射石弹、石头攻击城堡和防守要塞的武器的称呼。这种武器在西亚、中亚、欧洲、非洲等地通称为射石机。由于中国古代的炮也是“以机发石”,其功能与伊斯兰国家的射石机极为相似,因而在伊斯兰国家的著作中,也称中国古代的炮为射石机。 回回炮是通过什么途径传入中国的呢?《元史》记载说:“阿老瓦丁,回回氏,西域木发 Yuan Dynasty written by the supremacy of the “Dynasty class” records: Weaponry of the Yuan Dynasty, “the essence of the Western artillery, folding crossbow, all unprecedented world.” The Western Region artillery, also called “Return Gun”, was the call of the Yuan Dynasty to the Islamic countries in the western region to launch weapons such as rock shells, stones attacking castles and defensive bastions. Such weapons are commonly known as rock firing machines in West Asia, Central Asia, Europe and Africa. Since the ancient Chinese artillery was also “machine-made stone”, its function is very similar to that of Islamic countries. Therefore, in the works of Islamic countries, the ancient Chinese artillery was also called a stone shooting machine. Return to the gun through what channels were introduced to China? “Yuan Dynasty” records said: "Ah Lawading, Hui Shi, Western Wood