The Chinese, who are credited with inventing the crossbow, had a strong interest in continuously improving its efficiency and power by experimenting with various designs. In addition to the early invention of the repeating crossbow in the 4th century BC, the Chinese also developed another distinctive type of crossbow known as the multiprod crossbow, or sometimes referred to as the multiple bow arcuballista.
The multiprod crossbow features the mounting of multiple prods, linked at the típ by ropes, which allows for an extended draw length and powerstroke compared to a single prod crossbow, without the complicated system of torsion engines in Greco-Roman world. This design enables the crossbow to generate more power while maintaining the same draw weight. In addition to its increased power, the multiprod crossbow offers improved efficiency and portability when compared to single prod crossbows of similar power.