This thesis aims to explore the pattern and characteristics of siege warfare during the Five Dynasties China (907-959). Through both quantitative and qualitative studies, my thesis demonstrates the shift in the mode of military conflicts from field battles to siege warfare and its impacts on militarization, including technologies, organization and logistics....[ Read more ]

This thesis aims to explore the pattern and characteristics of siege warfare during the Five Dynasties China (907-959). Through both quantitative and qualitative studies, my thesis demonstrates the shift in the mode of military conflicts from field battles to siege warfare and its impacts on militarization, including technologies, organization and logistics.

My statistical survey not only shows the increasing frequency of sieges, which is highest among various forms of combats, but also indicates its principal characteristics, particularly duration, geographical distribution, the possibility of success in siege warfare, factors contributing to the success and failure of sieges, and the sizes of the besieging and defense forces. The crucial cases of Li Keyong (856-908) and Li Cunxu (885-926) are consistent with findings in the statistical survey. Their adaptation to siege warfare in both quantity as well as quality reflects the dominance of siege warfare.

My study also demonstrates the sophistication, attrition, and logistical nature of siege warfare during the Five Dynasties period. First, as the city walls and fortifications became more complex, armies had to rely heavily on experts, skilled labourers, and infantrymen in siege warfare. Secondly, since these defensive structures did not easily succumb to siegecraft in general, carrying out siege warfare required the military powers to concentrate huge amounts of manpower and resources. That also increased the length of their campaigns. These characteristics of siege warfare are clearly shown in the sieges of Qianzhou (918), Hezhong (948-949), and Shouzhou (955-957). Consequently the siege warfare also placed a great logistical and financial burden on the armies, which had to sustain the siege by maintaining a large besieging force for longer than their enemy can resist, over the long haul.