Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668) was a powerful Korean kingdom in the medieval East, which existed for nearly 1 000 years with advanced military capabilities.
The kingdom defended its sovereignty and dignity against millions of foreign aggressors and raised its profile over the world, which was attributable to three elements—its prevalent spirit of attaching importance to military affairs, a fort-defending system densely deployed across the kingdom, and advanced weaponry.
Advanced weaponry was one of the important factors of Koguryo’s powerful military capabilities. The progressiveness and superiority of its military equipment can be evidenced by Chonbono, a long-range catapult that fires arrows as far as 1 000 bo.
Koguryo, which had been promoting archery since its founding, invented a catapult with a long range by developing the excellent catapult-making technology from Ancient Joson (early 30th century BC-108 BC).
When 1 000 bo is changed into metres, it is as far as 1 200 m.
An old document compiled in 1762 says that a Koguryo soldier in a battle shot the chief of foreign invaders in the eye and this indicated Koguryo was most likely to possess Chonbono.
Chonbono was well known to the neighbouring kingdoms and it became a weapon of interest for all.
Chonbono offers a glimpse into the development of Koguryo’s weaponry.
Hwang Kum Sok, researcher at the History Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences
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