Siege Weapons of the Far East (1) AD612-1300

For almost all of the period discussed above, Japan was engaged in wars of its own in which siege warfare often played an important role, and from about AD 400, Japanese armies were involved in wars in Korea in support of the Paekche state. This activity reached its peak during the seventh century, when Japan sent expeditionary forces to aid Packche against the alliance of Silla and Tang China. This adventure came to an end with a disastrous defeat at the Paekch'on River in 663, and from 666, when the Tang defeated Koguryo, Japan moved on to the defensive in the face of a likely invasion by Silla. Much military lore passed into Japan at this time, and Japanese armies of the eighth century used large siege crossbows against rebel fortresses. However, as these were never the primary weapons of the Japanese army, they were finally abandoned in about 1200.
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