Han Thumb Rings
I have reviewed my collection of late Warring States to Han Dynasty thumb rings. The materials include nephrite jade, turquoise, quartz crystal, bronze, bone, ivory and agate.
Of twelve thumb rings, five are made for left hand use and seven for right hand use, as evidenced by the protrusions for securing the arrow which pointed upwards. Eleven appear to be for a hand size about 10% smaller than male hands in China now. That is consistent with the size of Warring States to Han sword and knife grips, which are too small for modern hands to grasp.
There is no evidence that the rings were made in pairs. Rings were placed in burials for women; but the design was more abstract. It has been suggested that Chinese in early times wore rings on both hands; but there is no evidence to support that.
There was a convention in those times that it was inauspicious for women to touch weapons. However, in burials, the placing of a thumb ring over the heart of the deceased symbolized 'protection' of the part of the binary soul that made the journey heavenward.
Of twelve thumb rings, five are made for left hand use and seven for right hand use, as evidenced by the protrusions for securing the arrow which pointed upwards. Eleven appear to be for a hand size about 10% smaller than male hands in China now. That is consistent with the size of Warring States to Han sword and knife grips, which are too small for modern hands to grasp.
There is no evidence that the rings were made in pairs. Rings were placed in burials for women; but the design was more abstract. It has been suggested that Chinese in early times wore rings on both hands; but there is no evidence to support that.
There was a convention in those times that it was inauspicious for women to touch weapons. However, in burials, the placing of a thumb ring over the heart of the deceased symbolized 'protection' of the part of the binary soul that made the journey heavenward.
Stephen,
You have an unusually large percentage of left handed rings. In the archaeological literature, left handed rings are very rare.
Wearing that type of ring on both hands would be very uncomfortable when shooting for any length of time. I think ambidextrous archers may have had the least used thumb bare or only covered by a leather tab.
In the case of the Fu Hao ring, it is possible that the ring was used by the lady as she is said to have led armies.
You have an unusually large percentage of left handed rings. In the archaeological literature, left handed rings are very rare.
Wearing that type of ring on both hands would be very uncomfortable when shooting for any length of time. I think ambidextrous archers may have had the least used thumb bare or only covered by a leather tab.
In the case of the Fu Hao ring, it is possible that the ring was used by the lady as she is said to have led armies.
Something must have escaped me over the years. How does the protrusion secure the arrow?
The protrusion can be rested against the side of the nock while the proximal segment of the index finger touches the other side thus cradling the arrow. My personal experience is that this helps maintain the thumb ring at a constant angle to the string and the arrow, increasing consistency.
By varying the position of the spur, the angle of the thumb ring across the bowstring can be set so that a sharper release can be guaranteed. There are other techniques that one can use with this type of thumb ring, but unfortunately none of them are documented.
By varying the position of the spur, the angle of the thumb ring across the bowstring can be set so that a sharper release can be guaranteed. There are other techniques that one can use with this type of thumb ring, but unfortunately none of them are documented.
Bede:
Thank you. I think I can envision that.
Am I correct in suspecting that these thumb rings (maybe most) might compromise a strong grip on sowrds and staffed or hafted weapons [e.g. maces, axes, spears]?
Thank you. I think I can envision that.
Am I correct in suspecting that these thumb rings (maybe most) might compromise a strong grip on sowrds and staffed or hafted weapons [e.g. maces, axes, spears]?
They can be rotated about 90 degrees to reduce their bulkiness when holding other weapons.
A remarkable number of them have two small holes on the rear of the ring large enough for a silk thread. This might have been attached to a wrist strap so that the ring could be removed rapidly in action. I have seen no textual references to this.
Older rings from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties have larger holes that were suggested to support a wrist cord. It is more likely that the Warring States and Han rings have their small holes as a heritage of the earlier rings rather than as a practical restraint.
The ring I have has holes only large enough for a fine thread to be passed through them. I doubt that the archers worried about changing weapons. The wrap-around robes common in the Han made it easy to put something small between the lapel and the belt without any chance of accidentally loosing it. The rings could be removed quickly and safely stored temporarily.
A remarkable number of them have two small holes on the rear of the ring large enough for a silk thread. This might have been attached to a wrist strap so that the ring could be removed rapidly in action. I have seen no textual references to this.
Older rings from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties have larger holes that were suggested to support a wrist cord. It is more likely that the Warring States and Han rings have their small holes as a heritage of the earlier rings rather than as a practical restraint.
The ring I have has holes only large enough for a fine thread to be passed through them. I doubt that the archers worried about changing weapons. The wrap-around robes common in the Han made it easy to put something small between the lapel and the belt without any chance of accidentally loosing it. The rings could be removed quickly and safely stored temporarily.
I think that stone thumb rings were hung around the neck when not shooting as there was a superstition that they represented 'protection' of the body - hence the holes drilled in them.
There are no holes in my ivory and bronze ones: presumably they were too brittle.
Bede: I think that the prevalence of left handed rings is as reflected in my collection. The literature may have ignored this aspect - most archaeologists don't recognize that there is a relationship between the spur and handedness, and reversing illustrations inadvertently is a common error.
S
There are no holes in my ivory and bronze ones: presumably they were too brittle.
Bede: I think that the prevalence of left handed rings is as reflected in my collection. The literature may have ignored this aspect - most archaeologists don't recognize that there is a relationship between the spur and handedness, and reversing illustrations inadvertently is a common error.
S
Stephen,
I see your point. Reversal of images is still happening and even occurs when writing is present. This is particularly true when the layout person can't read the language. You would not believe how many Phags-pa inscriptions are printed backwards.
Regarding the holes, I think your explanation is as good as any. There is a tradition of suspending small objects by threads through tiny holes. Around the neck would be much safer than on the wrist.
I see your point. Reversal of images is still happening and even occurs when writing is present. This is particularly true when the layout person can't read the language. You would not believe how many Phags-pa inscriptions are printed backwards.
Regarding the holes, I think your explanation is as good as any. There is a tradition of suspending small objects by threads through tiny holes. Around the neck would be much safer than on the wrist.