The use of cannons in the Malay world dates to before the 16th century. The Portuguese report the capture of 3000 cannons at Melaka in 1511 and in 1521, indicating that Malay polities such as Melaka was already utilizing cannons in warfare by then. Pigafetta, a 16th-century Venetian scholar and traveller, reports seeing them in Brunei on Magellan's historic voyage. Important centres of cannon production included Brunei, Aceh and Makassar.

The use of cannons was not limited to the royal houses, however. From at least the 16th century, Malay sailing vessels on inter-island trade too carried small cannons on board, as defence against piracy.

Cannons continue to be used well into the 18th century, as detailed in historical literature such as Syair Perang Mengkasar that narrates the 18th century war between the Bugis chiefs and the Dutch forces in Macassar, as well as in Syair Perang Siak, which narrates a war between the Sultan of Siak with the Dutch in the same period.
Reproduction based on the collection of Asian Civilisations Museum.