Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 85

Page 39

Illustration of Loading a Crossbow on the Knee

original: "膝上上弩圖" (xī shàng shàng nǔ tú). This illustration demonstrates a specific technique for spanning a crossbow by using the knee as a fulcrum to manage the weapon's weight and tension.

Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 102

Military Formations: Explanations of Formations, Part II

On the Pedal-Drawn Crossbow original: "陣說二" (zhèn shuō èr). This section provides the second part of the discourse on formations and the specific use of equipment within them.

For crossbows of exceptional strength, one must use a foot-strap to tread upon and cock the weapon; this technique is known as pedal-drawing pedal-drawing (jué zhāng): a method of spanning a heavy crossbow by using the powerful muscles of the legs and the weight of the body rather than the arms alone..

To perform this, stand your right foot horizontally with the toes pointed slightly toward the left. This positioning causes the right thigh to turn outward. Place the body of the crossbow upon the thigh. Use both hands to pull the string upward while tightly gripping the stock original: "弩身" (nǔ shēn), referring to the wooden main body or tiller of the crossbow.. You must not lower your head to look at the trigger mechanism This instruction ensures the soldier maintains a stable posture and keeps their eyes on the battlefield even while reloading..

Straighten the right leg firmly to provide a solid brace, and then jerk your entire body backward with a sudden effort. This movement causes the trigger mechanism to rise automatically and catch the crossbow string. Because the outer thigh provides a wide and stable surface to rest the crossbow, the weapon can be cocked without the risk of it slipping or rolling away. By using this method, one can successfully span a crossbow with a draw weight of up to three hundred jin jin: a traditional unit of weight. During the Ming dynasty, this was approximately 600 grams. A 300-jin draw weight equates to roughly 400 pounds of tension, a feat only possible through this mechanical use of the legs and torso..