"How Did the Song Infantry Fight?" Topic

I am interested in the Song infantry were organized and fought. Most rules sets designate them as Medium Infantry (ie. loose formation). Is that correct? Did the Song infantry fight in deep formations? Did they have imbedded box or xbow? Any information would be most appreciated.

I haven't looked into the Song myself in any detail, so I can't really help, but Dragon's Armoury blog has some recent articles on the Song which might be a starting point;

link

I know nothing about Sing, but in "most rules" Medium Infantry is NOT loose order. It is close order, but without armor.
This could be 2 rank hoplites, 4 rank pikes, and so on.

Marcus

Obviously they fought With, "a song in their hearts" 🎶 😉

Sorry I couldn't resist.

Ah, but what song OVI?

But could they really sing a song?

I heard their chorus line was exceptional!

Huzzah!
(however that translates)

Peter Lorge's thesis "War and the Creation of the Northern Song State" – link – has the information you want, for the earliest period of the Song dynasty anyway.

(Anything by Lorge is worth reading.)

Basically, descriptions of training exercises suggest that an infantry unit contained spearmen, crossbowmen, and archers. Spearmen formed a front line to protect the rest; crossbowmen stood in front of archers (who, I presume, shot at a high angle over everyone else). I don't think Lorge is specific about numbers but Stephen Selby's book "Chinese archery" quotes one period source as saying that the infantry should be 60% crossbowmen, 20% spears and 20% bows. I assume that this would translate as one rank of spears, three of crossbows, and a final rank of archers.

Later periods may be different – the Song were around for a long time.

Marcus, I'm assuming you are working with the Southern Song Empire.

Those who fought under General Li

So of course, they sang "Dixie". 😉

Thanks GurKhan and Clibinarium for your links. The Ph.D thesis looks particularly promising.