Chu Ko Nu Chinese Repeating Crossbow History
Channel: Historical Weapons
Date: 2022-05-01

This reproduction is based on the Qing dynasty versions. In this video we will look at the history of these famous weapons. The repeating crossbow (連弩/Lián Nǔ), also known as the repeater crossbow, and the Zhuge crossbow (諸葛弩; Zhūgě nǔ, Chu-ko-nu) due to its association with the Three Kingdoms-era strategist Zhuge Liang (181–234 AD), is a crossbow invented during the Warring States period in China that combined the bow spanning, bolt placing, and shooting actions into one motion.

The earliest archaeological evidence of the repeating crossbow is found in the state of Chu, but it uses a push pull action that is different from the later and more commonly known Ming dynasty design, which is lever action.

Although the repeating crossbow was in use throughout most of Chinese history until the late Qing dynasty, it was generally regarded as a non-military weapon suited for women, defending households against robbers, against peasant revolts, and even hunting. That being said, they had niche uses in the military. 

Shenyang Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/