316 CHAPTER 6
Ring-pommel swords became common from the 4th century AD and
remained in use until the 8th century in the Far East. Ring-pommel swords
also have a long tradition in China, spanning several hundred years, where
they were already known from the Zhan Guo period (481–222 BC) and became
widespread during the Han-dynasty (206 BC–220 AD).67 These swords were
extremely popular in China at a time contemporary with the Early Avar period
where such swords were suspended using P-shaped loops. A miniature model
of a ring-pommel sword with P-shaped suspension loops is known from the
grave of Emperor Wudi (died in 578) and from the burial of General Li Xian
(569).68 P-shaped suspension loops are also on ring-pommel swords from
Luoyang (Metropolitan Museum),69 from grave No. 46 at the Xian cemetery of
the Wei-family. Representations of these swords are known from the walls of
the burial of Shi Shewu of Sogdian origin in Guyuan and on the guard statues
of the Sui-dynasty.70 Ring-pommel swords are probably represented on many
more guard statues, with the characteristic feature itself invisible since such
guards were usually depicted with hands on the pommel which was covered
by the long, loose sleeves of their costume.71
Ring-pommel swords spread throughout Korea and Japan most likely as a
result of Chinese influence. Such swords are known from the period of the
Three Kingdoms (Silla, Paekche and Koguryo, in the 4th–7th c. AD), primarily
from the royal burials of Kyongju.72 The use of ring-pommel swords is contem-
poraneous with the Kofun period in Japan.73 However, the swords in Korea and
Japan are characterised by a ring-pommel cast of copper alloy and riveted to
the hilt of the iron sword. The pommel was usually decorated with phoenix,
dragon or trefoil motif.74
Representations of ring-pommel swords are also known from Sogdian
wall paintings in Transoxiana. Embassadors in two different costumes are
represented with ring-pommel swords on the wall paintings of Afrasiab (Old
Samarkand) from the 7th century, on a scene depicting Varkhuman ikhshid
67 Yang 1992, 210, Abb. 301–304; Koch 1998a, 587; Koch 2006.
68 Koch 1998a, 576, Abb. 2. Taf. 73/2.
69 Nickel 1973, 134, 10. fig; Koch 1998a, Taf. 74/1.
70 Koch 1998a, 589, Abb. 5. Taf. 82.
71 Guard statues of general Zhang Sheng in Anyang (Henan province) (Koch 1998a, 580,
Abb. 3).
72 Ito 1971, 62–68, Abb. 46–47; Nelson 1993, 257.
73 Kakudo 1991, 56, Kat. No. 26.
74 Kaya 1992, 44–47, Pl. CXLIX.