Look for the photograph of this action front

This a good photograph of a Qing archer's stance. I have seen another where the archer is standing in almost the same pose with his arms in the same position.

thanks :o

How exactly does the archer in the photograph form his lock?

M

If it is the same as the other picture I saw (and it looks identical), he has a cylindrical ring and is pressing the side against his middle finder while curling the tip of his index finger over the base of his thumb nail. The pad of the index finger would be in contact with the back side of the ring.

I have tried this with original rings and it works as long as you slightly bend the thumb inside the ring and do nto straighten it when you release. The thumb has to move from the proximal joint (the one nearest the hand) not the distal one as with other thumb rings.

There is a diagram of this position in Stephen Selby's book Chinese Archery.

These photos were published in Asia Magazine in September 1936. Although the costume is historical, I think that the photos date from around then.

Thankyou Bede for your explaination, I've looked at the diagram and I can now see what the archer is doing.

Regards