Strange method of wearing bowcase and quiver

Yes, I've seen this practice of holding onto the bow by slipping an arm or shoulder through it from time to time. For example -


Western Jin tiles have similar depictions. It would keep your hands free without having a bow-holster flapping around your waist. I also wonder whether these very broad-limbed bows were not difficult to holster. Images I have of these bows in holsters are not really credible. For example -


S

I think the real explanation is that the man is the page to the official to his right and has slung the bow case and quiver of his master over his shoulder by the waist belt. This occurs several times in Chinese art. There is ever a special Mongol term for a quiver bearer:qorchi.

Of course Stephen is right about carrying the bow over the arm. In battle this was a useful way of freeing up the hand quickly without having the put the bow back in the bow case.

Hmm. So that's why there are eight people in the painting even though the title says only four generals. Thanks for the explanations!

Sure! And the important persons are depicted taller ;-)) A very common manner of representation of rank.

JJ

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Both those pictures are of Qing horsemen. There is nothing to identify them as Mongols though they could be from one of the Mongol banners in the Qing army.

Yes, those two pictures are from a set of modern art prints based loosely on Castiglione's steel engravings of the Manchu campaigns against the Dzungars.

Here you go. A clearer picture explains everything :D

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Re. picture above, from the dress etc, we are looking at a Khitan.

More closeups.




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Interesting. The details of the sashes and belts weren't clear in the original image.