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Bed Crossbow

Type Object Region China Time c. 960–1279

A large fixed crossbow of the Northern Song, mounted on a wooden bed frame with multiple crossbows linked or drawn by winding ropes, with long range …

Timeline

  1. c. 1044Bianjing · KaifengThe Wujing Zongyao systematically recorded types such as the three-bow and seven-bow bed crossbows along with drawing, aiming, and firing procedures, incorporating the bed crossbow into Northern Song official military technical standards.
  2. 1051–1060Frontier fortresses on the Song-Liao border · North ChinaIn the 1050s, bed crossbows were deployed at frontier forts and passes in Hebei, Hedong, and elsewhere, forming multi-layered long-range defense in combination with ballistae and firearms; this node falls within the 1051–1060 window.

Sources