Strange method of wearing bowcase and quiver

Hyarmendacil · Post by **Hyarmendacil** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:04 am

In this Song-dynasty painting:

the third man from the left seems to be carrying his quiver and bowcase crossed over his back in a configuration I've never seen before. Is this a practical configuration? And, if so, was it ever commonly used?

(There's a larger picture at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... f_Song.jpg )

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:13 am

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

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:59 pm

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.

Hyarmendacil · Post by **Hyarmendacil** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:02 am

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

JJ · Post by JJ » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:06 pm

Sure! And the important persons are depicted taller

) A very common manner of representation of rank.

JJ

M??a · Post by **M??a** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:13 pm

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:47 pm

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.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:51 am

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.

Dwanyin · Post by **Dwanyin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:51 am

Here you go. A clearer picture explains everything

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:16 am

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

Dwanyin · Post by **Dwanyin** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:04 am

More closeups.

Hyarmendacil · Post by **Hyarmendacil** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:45 am

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