Английская Википедия:Chinese siege weapons

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Шаблон:Short description

Файл:Imperial Encyclopaedia - Military Administration - pic431 - 臨衝呂公車圖.svg
Siege tower

This is an overview of Chinese siege weapons.

Siege ladders

Файл:Scaling ladder in ancient China.jpg
Modern reconstruction of a cloud ladder

Siege ladders were used starting from the Warring States period. A hinged folding ladder known as the "cloud ladder" was quite prominent. Originally it used a counterweight to unfold once within reach of the enemy walls, but the contraption proved to be too vulnerable, and switched to a simple pulling mechanism during the Song dynasty. The newer version had men pull on ropes from behind with the aid of a long pole to move the top ladder into position. Some ladders had a compartment built below it to house soldiers who provided covering fire with crossbows.Шаблон:Sfn

Hook carts

Hook carts such as the fork and falcon carts were used to pull down parapets and the top part of walls to make it easier for ladders to access. Once attached, 50 to 100 men took hold of a rope and pulled until the wall came down. They were used as early as the Three Kingdoms period, as mentioned by Chen Lin:

Шаблон:Quotation

Файл:Fork cart wjzy.jpg
A fork cart
Файл:Hungry falcon cart wjzy.jpg
A hungry falcon cart

Assault cover

Various protective covers were used during a siege. The most typical were mobile screens and assault wagons. More complex contraptions such as plaited galleries were used for mining and filling in moats.Шаблон:Sfn

Observation tower

Файл:Nest cart and watchtower cart wjzy.jpg
Nest and watchtower carts.

Static observation towers such as the nest and watchtower carts were used to see into the city.Шаблон:Sfn Static towers were also used in close proximity to enemy walls to rain down projectiles on the defenders.Шаблон:Sfn

Mobile siege tower

Mobile siege towers have been used in China since the 6th century BC. They were often called overlook carts, assault carts, or some combination of the two.Шаблон:Sfn A typical mobile siege tower was five stories tall mounted on axles with two wheels on each side. The tower was pushed forward by men on the lowest storey or pulled by horses and oxen.Шаблон:Sfn

The king of Wu mentioned it in a passage comparing land armies to the navy.

Шаблон:Quotation

During the Tang dynasty, in the 783 siege of Fengtian, an assault cart Шаблон:Convert tall was constructed, protected by layers of cowhide and equipped with leather bags of water to douse fires. It was used in an attempt to breach the city. The defenders managed to dig a trench in front of the siege engine, which tipped it over, and they burnt it and had it destroyed.Шаблон:Sfn

In 1132, the Jurchen Jin dynasty constructed assault carts called "sky bridges" during the Siege of De'an, but failed to reach the enemy walls due to the use of long beams to push them away.Шаблон:Sfn

The last recorded use of assault carts was in 1851 by the Taiping rebels to besiege Guilin after their first attempt with ladders failed. They mounted cannons on it to bombard the Qing soldiers manning the walls, but the tower was destroyed by a combination of burning oil and long poles wrapped in incendiary material at the ends.Шаблон:Sfn

Ram

Файл:Iron plated ram wjzy.jpg
Iron plated ram

The Chinese ram used an iron-plated head. After the introduction of gunpowder it added a cannon as well.Шаблон:Sfn

Traction trebuchet

The traction trebuchet, also referred to as a mangonel in some sources, is an artillery weapon which derives from manpower its motive force, and was probably used by the Mohists starting from the 4th century BC. Descriptions of it can be found in the Mojing (compiled in the 4th century BC). It consisted of an arm and sling mounted on a wooden frame, sometimes with wheels. Attached to one end of the arm were pulling ropes for men to power the weapon.Шаблон:Sfn In Chapter 14 of the Mojing, the traction trebuchet is described hurling hollowed out logs filled with burning charcoal at enemy troops.Шаблон:Sfn Trebuchets mounted on wheels were said to have needed 200 men to pull each of them.Шаблон:Sfn

By the Qin and Han dynasties, traction trebuchets were a common weapon used in both attack and defense. Later on in 617 Li Mi (Sui dynasty) constructed 300 trebuchets for his assault on Luoyang, in 621 Li Shimin did the same at Luoyang, and onward into the Song dynasty when in 1161, trebuchets operated by Song dynasty soldiers fired bombs of lime and sulphur against the ships of the Jin dynasty navy during the Battle of Caishi.Шаблон:Sfn

"Whirlwind" and "four footed" trebuchets appeared during the Tang dynasty. The whirlwind trebuchet used a single vertical pole which could be rotated 360 degrees for increased versatility at the cost of projectile strength. The four footed trebuchets were essentially the same as the previous Warring States weapons, differentiated from the whirlwinds by specifying its stability and larger size.Шаблон:Sfn

As defensive weapons, traction trebuchets were positioned behind city walls and guided by an "artillery observer" on the walls. Range was determined by the strength and number of men pulling. Increasing and decreasing range meant adding and removing men from the pulling ropes.Шаблон:Sfn

The traction trebuchet continued to be used until the counterweight trebuchet was introduced in 1272 during the Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty.Шаблон:Sfn

Wheel catapult

A military engineer of the Three Kingdoms period, Ma Jun, devised a device which threw large stones using a wheel. This device consisted of a drum wheel attached with a curved knife. When rotated, the stones which hung on the wheel would be cut loose by the knife and launched. It is not clear how well this device worked in practice. Successful tests with roof tiles instead of stones are mentioned, but according to Liang Jieming, this contraption never made it past the testing phase and could not have been possible with the available technology at the time.Шаблон:Sfn

Counterweight trebuchet

Файл:Trebuchet1-intransit.jpg
A wheeled counterweight trebuchet.

The introduction of the counterweight trebuchet in China is usually attributed to Muslim engineers during the Battle of Xiangyang in 1273, but it is possible that it was independently invented earlier in 1232 by the Jurchen Jin commander Qiang Shen. Qiang Shen invented a device called the "Arresting Trebuchet" which only needed a few men to work it, and could hurl great stones more than a hundred paces, further than even the strongest traction trebuchet. However no details on the construction of the machine are given. Qiang died the following year and no further references to the Arresting Trebuchet appear.Шаблон:Sfn Even earlier, a Song officer, Wei Sheng, had invented a trebuchet in 1176 that could hurl stones and gunpowder projectiles some 200 paces.Шаблон:Sfn

Шаблон:Quotation

The counterweight trebuchet, known as the Muslim trebuchet (or Huihui Pao) in China, replaced the traction version after its introduction in the late 13th century. Its greater range was however, somewhat countered by the fact that it had to be constructed at the site of the siege unlike traction trebuchets, which were easier to take apart and put back together again where necessary.Шаблон:Sfn

The counterweight trebuchet remained in use in China for roughly two centuries, at which point it was well on its way to obsolescence.Шаблон:Sfn

Weapon Crew Projectile weight: kilograms (pounds) Range: meters (feet)
Whirlwind trebuchet 50 Шаблон:Convert Шаблон:Convert
Crouching tiger trebuchet 70 Шаблон:Convert Шаблон:Convert
Four footed (one arm) trebuchet 40 Шаблон:Convert Шаблон:Convert
Four footed (two arm) trebuchet 100 Шаблон:Convert Шаблон:Convert
Four footed (five arm) trebuchet 157 Шаблон:Convert Шаблон:Convert
Four footed (seven arm) trebuchet 250 Шаблон:Convert Шаблон:Convert
Counterweight trebuchet ? ~Шаблон:Convert Шаблон:Convert

Mounted crossbow

Файл:Two-bow crossbow wjzy.jpg
A double bed crossbow
Файл:Triple bow crossbow wjzy.jpg
A triple bed crossbow
Файл:Qinacruballistabolts.jpg
Large and small Qin crossbow bolts

Large crossbows called "bed crossbows" were mounted on rectangular frameworks, often wheeled. Bowstaves were also sometimes combined to increase tension and initial velocity of the bolt.Шаблон:Sfn

Bed crossbow

Large mounted crossbows known as "bed crossbows" were used as early as the Warring States period. Mozi described them as defensive weapons placed on top the battlements. The Mohist siege crossbow was described as humongous device with frameworks taller than a man and shooting arrows with cords attached so that they could be pulled back. By the Han dynasty, crossbows were used as mobile field artillery and known as "Military Strong Carts".Шаблон:Sfn Around the 5th century AD, multiple bows were combined to increase draw weight and length, thus creating the double and triple bow crossbows. Tang versions of this weapon are stated to have obtained a range of Шаблон:Convert, which is supported by Ata-Malik Juvayni on the use of similar weapons by the Mongols in 1256.Шаблон:Sfn According to Juvayni, Hulagu Khan brought with him 3,000 giant crossbows from China, for the siege of Nishapur, and a team of Chinese technicians to work a great 'ox bow' shooting large bolts a distance of 2,500 paces, which was used at the siege of Maymun Diz.Шаблон:Sfn Constructing these weapons, especially the casting of the large triggers, and their operation required the highest order of technical expertise available at the time. They were primarily used from the 8th to 11th centuries.Шаблон:Sfn The bed crossbow has been compared with the ballista elephant that can be seen on the bas-relief of the 13th century Bayon in Cambodia.[1]

Joseph Needham on the range of the triple-bow crossbow:

Шаблон:Quotation

Multiple bolt crossbow

The multiple bolt crossbow appeared around the late 4th century BC. A passage dated to 320 BC states that it was mounted on a three-wheeled carriage and stationed on the ramparts. The crossbow was drawn using a treadle and shot Шаблон:Convert long arrows. Other drawing mechanisms such as winches and oxen were also used.Шаблон:Sfn Later on pedal release triggers were also used.Шаблон:Sfn Although this weapon was able to discharge multiple bolts, it was at the cost of reduced accuracy.Шаблон:Sfn It had a maximum range of Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn

When Qin Shi Huang's magicians failed to get in touch with "spirits and immortals of the marvellous islands of the Eastern Sea", they excused themselves by saying large monsters blocked their way. Qin Shi Huang personally went out with a multiple bolt crossbow to see these monsters for himself. He found no monsters but killed a big fish.Шаблон:Sfn

In 99 BC, they were used as field artillery against attacking nomadic cavalry.Шаблон:Sfn

In 759 AD, Li Quan described a type of multiple bolt crossbow capable of destroying ramparts and city towers:

Шаблон:Quotation

In 950 AD, Tao Gu described multiple crossbows connected by a single trigger:

Шаблон:Quotation

The weapon was considered obsolete by 1530.Шаблон:Sfn

Handheld bows
Weapon Shots per minute Range: meters (feet)
Chinese composite bow Шаблон:Convert
Manchu bow Шаблон:Convert
Chinese crossbow Шаблон:Convert
Cavalry crossbow Шаблон:Convert
Repeating crossbow 28–48 Шаблон:Convert
Double shot repeating crossbow 56–96 Шаблон:Convert
Siege crossbows
Weapon Crew Shots per minute Range: meters (feet)
Mounted multi-bolt 6–12 Шаблон:Convert
Mounted single-bow Шаблон:Convert
Mounted double-bow 4–7 Шаблон:Convert
Mounted triple-bow 20–30 Шаблон:Convert

Incendiaries

Файл:Chinese Flamethrower.JPG
A Chinese flamethrower.
Файл:武经总要 火球图.jpg
An 'igniter fire ball' and 'barbed fire ball' from the Wujing Zongyao.

Prior to the introduction of gunpowder, fire arrows used mineral oil and sulphur as incendiaries. They were most commonly used by defenders to burn enemy siege engines such as ladders and rams. They were also used to create fires in defending cities.Шаблон:Sfn

Gunpowder

Шаблон:See also When gunpowder arrived in the 10th century, fire arrows switched to gunpowder incendiaries. Production of gunpowder and fire arrows heavily increased in the 11th century as the court centralized the production process, constructing large gunpowder production facilities, hiring artisans, carpenters, and tanners for the military production complex in the capital of Kaifeng. One surviving source from c. 1023 lists all the artisans working in Kaifeng while another notes that in 1083 the imperial court sent 100,000 gunpowder arrows to one garrison and 250,000 to another.Шаблон:Sfn When the Jin captured Kaifeng in 1126 they captured 20,000 fire arrows for their arsenal.Шаблон:Sfn

Gunpowder was also used in fire balls launched by trebuchets. "Barbed fire balls" used a series of hooks to latch onto its target. A "molten metal bomb" also saw use during the Jin siege of Kaifeng in 1126. These were ceramic containers filled with molten metal kept in a mobile furnace.Шаблон:Sfn

Fire birds were a form of live delivery system for incendiaries. A walnut sized piece of burning tinder was tied to the birds' neck or leg. The idea was that once released, they would settle on the roofs of the enemy city, setting fire to the thatch.Шаблон:Sfn

The fire ox was another live delivery system. The ox was let loose with two spears attached to its sides and an incendiary tied to its behind. Later on a delayed-action bomb was also added.Шаблон:Sfn

Around 900, Greek fire entered the Chinese arsenal. The flamethrower consisted of a brass container and a horizontal pump connected to the gunpowder ignition chamber. When pushed, the pump caused burning petrol to squirt out. It was recommended that these devices be placed on the walls so that when rolls of straw were thrown at siege engines, they would be ignited by the petrol fire. Flamethrowers were also used at sea, sometimes disastrously. In 975, the commander of Southern Tang's navy panicked when enemy ships assaulted them with a barrage of arrows. In desperation, he projected petrol from flamethrowers at the enemy, but a sudden northern wind blew the flames in the opposite direction, setting his entire fleet ablaze. The commander jumped into the fire and died.Шаблон:Sfn

Chemical warfare

Gas bombs consisting of gunpowder mixed with various poisons wrapped in hemp and moxa were used as defensive weapons. These were said to cause great discomfort in the enemy, having effects such as bleeding from the mouth and nose. Other than poison, lime and excrement were also used for their noxious and blinding properties.Шаблон:Sfn

Various defensive measures

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

Шаблон:Ancient and Dynastic Chinese Military History

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  1. ↑ Шаблон:Cite journal
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