Bracelets and Finger Rings

original: 釧指鐶 Chuan Zhihuan

During the Later Han dynasty, Sun Cheng and nineteen others were recognized for their meritorious service in establishing Emperor Shun reigned 125–144 AD on the throne. As a reward, each was granted gold bracelets and finger rings. This serves as evidence that the design and use of bracelets were already established during the Han period.

The Essential Meanings of the Five Classics original: 五經要義 Wujing Yaoyi states: In ancient times, when the imperial consorts and concubines attended to the sovereign, those who were ready for duty would come forward wearing a silver ring. If a consort was pregnant or otherwise unable to serve due to her menstrual cycle, she would withdraw wearing a gold ring. Those entering wore the ring on the right hand, while those withdrawing wore it on the left. This was originally a regulation from the Three Dynasties The Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, considered the golden age of Chinese ritual, and it is the ancestor of what we today call the "abstinence ring" original: 戒指 Jiezhi; the modern Chinese word for 'finger ring,' which literally translates to 'abstinence ring' or 'ring of restraint'.

The illustration shows two interlocking bracelets with terminals shaped like the heads of mythical beasts. Below them are two rings: one inscribed with 'Seven Goods' and the other with 'Fortune and Longevity,' reflecting the transition of jewelry from ritual markers to symbols of personal luck.