The Palace Museum collection of Qing dynasty military equipment is primarily divided into two main categories, namely, armor and white arms (leng bingqi) and explosive weaponry (huoqi). The material used in the production of these various items includes steel, iron, bronze, wood, leather, ivory, and bone. The collection serves as a testament to the rise and fall of the Qing empire over the course of a few hundred years. Furthermore, these holdings show the unique historical development of Chinese arms and armor and the conflicts of bygone societies.