Shooting 15 Arrows in 10 Seconds: This is the Terrifying Weapon Invented by Zhuge Liang

The repeating crossbow of Zhuge Liang could fire up to 15 arrows in 10 seconds, becoming a fearsome weapon on the battlefields of ancient China.

The crossbow is an ancient weapon used for launching arrows, having a significant impact on battles in antiquity. Before it became widely used, the crossbow was initially a fairly simple weapon, consisting of a bow and a limited number of arrows.

To use the bow and arrow effectively, armies needed to train a number of archers with both physical strength and skilled proficiency.

In contrast, using a repeating crossbow typically required fewer skilled individuals and consumed much less physical strength compared to traditional bows.

Moreover, they could be produced at a lower cost. As a result, soldiers assigned to operate the crossbow (even if they were not well-trained in archery) could still use this weapon effectively on the battlefield.

Origins of the Crossbow: A Powerful Weapon of Antiquity

The crossbow may have been invented very early in ancient China. Some historians believe that it was the first military weapon invented in this country around 2000 BC.

This can be inferred from various artifacts such as bones, stones, or materials used to trigger crossbows. However, according to some conclusive evidence, the crossbow appeared around the 6th century BC in ancient China.

The crossbow was an ancient weapon used on battlefields in antiquity and the Middle Ages. (Image: Internet).

Furthermore, it is also believed that the crossbow was among the first inventions in East Asia and Central Asia, making it quite difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of this weapon.

However, most evidence in literature and archaeology suggests that the crossbow first appeared in China.

Image: Public Domain.

In literature, the two earliest references to the use of the crossbow include “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu and “Mozi” (around the 4th – 3rd century BC), along with a document related to the use of giant crossbows during the period around the 6th – 5th century BC, towards the end of the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC).

As for archaeological evidence, experts discovered a bronze component of a crossbow found in an ancient tomb in Qufu, Shandong Province.

These small artifacts date back to around 600 BC, and this region was then part of the State of Lu, a vassal state of the Zhou Dynasty during the Spring and Autumn period.

Additionally, archaeologists have also found bronze arrowheads dating from the mid-5th century BC in Hubei Province (which was previously part of the Zhou Dynasty).

Bows in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang. (Image: Ancient Origins)

Notably, in 2015, researchers were surprised to discover the first complete crossbow dating back to the Qin Dynasty, found in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first and famously mysterious emperor in Chinese history.

This ancient crossbow, over 2,000 years old, measures about 1.5 meters in length, with a range of nearly 800 meters.

The Repeating Crossbow of Zhuge Liang: The Terrifying “Machine Gun” of Ancient China

Despite its many advantages, the crossbow also had some serious drawbacks. One of these was its slow firing rate. Moreover, during the Middle Ages, European countries often used heavy arrows.

Accordingly, the average firing rate of a crossbow was about 2 arrows per minute. However, if a soldier was skilled, they could shoot 10-12 arrows per minute.

Experts suggest that the ancient Chinese crossbow also faced similar issues as those in medieval European countries.

The repeating crossbow, an excellent invention of Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms. (Image: BRLSI).

As everyone knows, Zhuge Liang was not only skilled in foresight and provided valuable advice to rulers, but he was also quite adept at improving combat tools in warfare. Under his guidance, during the Three Kingdoms period, he invented a type of crossbow that allowed for continuous firing of sharp arrows, known as the “Zhuge Liang’s Divine Crossbow” or “repeating crossbow” that we often see in various novels. You see, in the age of ancient cold weapons, the lethality of combat tools like the “Cloud Ladder” and “Zhuge Liang’s Divine Crossbow” could double the combat effectiveness in warfare, certainly comparable to machine guns and tanks in modern times.

The repeating crossbow is a famous invention of Zhuge Liang (181-234), an outstanding politician and military strategist of China during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). This particular invention by Zhuge Liang was created when he prepared to confront the Wei army.

Faced with the need to engage the large cavalry forces of Wei, Zhuge Liang developed a weapon with powerful capabilities and high lethality at that time. According to some historical records, this type of crossbow used iron arrows approximately 80 cm long.

The repeating crossbow has superior improvements compared to traditional crossbows. (Image: Ancient Origins).

In practical terms, one can observe the remarkable improvements of the repeating crossbow compared to previous weapons.

True to its name, the repeating crossbow can fire a considerable number of arrows before needing to be reloaded.

The astonishing rapid firing rate of the repeating crossbow has made it a fearsome long-range weapon on the battlefields of ancient China.

Unlike regular crossbows, the repeating crossbow is designed to automatically feed arrows into the firing grooves. This significantly reduces the downtime between shots and the actions of the archer.

The bowstring of the repeating crossbow is tensioned by a lever rather than by hand. (Image: Baike).

Additionally, the bowstring is tensioned by a lever instead of being pulled by hand, which also helps speed up the actions of the archer or soldier operating the crossbow, saving time and effort.

Specifically, in the hands of a skilled soldier or archer, the repeating crossbow can fire continuously 15 arrows in just 10 seconds, much faster than the rate of a traditional crossbow.

The rapid combat speed and high lethality of the repeating crossbow have led to its comparison as the “machine gun” of ancient Chinese soldiers.

Why is Zhuge Liang’s crossbow the pinnacle weapon of antiquity?

The combination of speed and power has made Zhuge Liang’s crossbow one of the most optimal weapons, meeting tactical and strategic demands in warfare, thereby contributing to changing the course of many major battles in antiquity.

The fast firing rate makes the repeating crossbow a fearsome long-range weapon on the battlefield. (Image: Sohu)

Zhuge Liang’s crossbow is considered the peak weapon of antiquity for several reasons:

1. Advanced technology: Zhuge Liang’s crossbow utilizes advanced mechanical techniques and technology. It can fire a considerable number of arrows before needing to reload, thanks to its automatic loading mechanism.
2. Enhanced firepower: With the ability to fire multiple arrows, Zhuge Liang’s crossbow significantly increases long-range offensive capabilities, making defense or attack more effective.
3. Power and accuracy: This weapon not only possesses considerable power due to its strong bow tension mechanism but also has high accuracy, increasing its ability to inflict damage on adversaries.
4. Psychological factor: The appearance of Zhuge Liang’s crossbow on the battlefield created a terrifying psychological factor for enemies witnessing a barrage of arrows being fired simultaneously.

Zhuge Liang’s crossbow exemplifies a blend of technical knowledge and military strategy, showcasing creativity and advancement in weapon production in antiquity.