For those learning Manchu archery from photos and Youtube.
Photo #1 is from Late Qing 1901
The thumb is not as hooked over the string as with other thumb guards. The ring locks on, it should not fall or fly off.
Screenshots are from this video tutorial in Mandarin which explains it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFVr3BwGo54
@ 2:16. Slight twist of the hand (towards your face) to release like a trigger.
Here is Chat GPT's conversion of a scroll displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art by an anonymous artist.
This is Zhan Yin Bao (占音保). First-Rank Imperial Bodyguard of Qianlong (reign, 1736. Retired in 1795. Died 1799.)
This is AI Slop, but good AI Slop.
My family used to deal with antiquities (some of them still do) and I used to be around a lot of objects such as this. My father used to casually wear the thumb rings from his shop while running errands. Sometimes an archaeic jade, sometimes agate, and I think there were some made of Cloisonne. As a child, I thought they looked ridiculous. Why would anyone walk around town wearing that on your thumb? But most people bought them to collect -- to display in a showcase or store in a box.
Fast Forward thirty-plus years, I'm taking up the hobby of Traditional Chinese Archery, learning all there is to know on the internet, and I find myself being reintroduced to an old family friend. Now I have a better appreciation for these.
The above collection was from the 2023 Sotheby's Hong Kong catalog and sold for $6.1 million (and showed up in auction also in 1997, and later on in 2007). It's from the Qian Long period, Qing dynasty, and supposedly looted by the French from the Summer Palace, Northwest of Beijing (I remember it used to be a very far drive, now it's part of the city between the 4th and 5th ring road.)
Carved Cinnabar Lacquer inscribed box and seven jade archers thumb brings (a couple nephrite, the rest, jadeite). Perhaps Qianlong's personal rings? If so, most likely they existed for the purpose of jewelry rather than the hunt.
From a Portulacaria Afra Prostrata Topiary Dome in my front yard that's due for a trim. Don't mind the Japanese boxwood in the background.