Legend has it that the general Cao Lỗ was a talented general of King An Dương, who made the magic crossbows (also known as Liên Châu crossbows) that shot many arrows at a time.

The crossbow was a typical long-distance weapon of the ancient Việt. In Việt Nam, bronze crossbow triggers were discovered fairly rich, which are dated to c.2,300 – 18,00 BP. This period coincided with the appaerance of the bronze arrows and crossbows (magic). The book Lĩnh Nam chích quái (Selection of Strange Tales in Lĩnh Nam ) notes that: Just point the crossbow to the enemy, they dare not come near.

Statue of the General Cao Lỗ at Chùa village - Cổ Loa

Many scientists have studied to decode the secret of how to make the magic crossbow in King An Dương period in order to recontruct it, including the model of the Museum of Vietnamese Military History, which can shot 5 arrows each time, with highly antipersonal level. This research work won the second prize at the Tenth National Technical Innovation Contest (2008-2009).

The reconstruction process of a Liên Châu crossbow by the Museum of Vietnamese Military History

Detailed drawing of the reconstructed Liên Châu crossbow by the Việt Nam Museum of Military History

Experimental shot using the Liên Châu crossbow resconstructed by the Việt Nam Museum of Military History

In 2020, the Engineer Vũ Đình Thanh, a technical expert of Almaz Research and Production Institution in the Russian Almaz Antey group, studied and resconstructed a model of King An Dương’s magic crossbow that shoots many arrows each time. His two artifacts are on display at the gallery at the Cổ Loa site area.

Detailed drawing of a crossbow

Engineer Vũ Đình Thanh and his co-workers are preparing an experimental shot

MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF COLOA VESTIGE SITE