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Author Topic: A Question about a photo/1890's Chinese Wear  (Read 1075 times)

Offline Kommando_J

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  • Posts: 1217
A Question about a photo/1890's Chinese Wear
« on: December 06, 2019, 01:32:58 AM »
Found this photo online on the 19th century wargaming facebook page by one Geoff Coe (whom I believe has an account on here) I find the picture fascinating and have a few questions:

What are the long sticks attached to two of the men's belts for?

Do each of the men have specific ranks/purposes - I notice one has a going (presumably for announcing his masters presence).

Are the men mercenaries , government servants? Also how are they recruited trained?

Any info would help thanks





Offline Shipka

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    • RussoTurkishWar1877
Re: A Question about a photo/1890's Chinese Wear
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2019, 12:28:27 AM »
Hi Kommando_J  certainly the two figures at either end are regulars , the tunics they wear are similar to those in a photograph of a soldier taken on his way Korea in 1894 . With regards to the long sticks I will assume the are for crowd control!, I may have that wrong. It is likely this rather unusual grouping are a provincial Mandarins escort.
The photograph was taken in Fuzhou  by a Spanish descent Italian businessman.
Cheers

Shipka aka Geoff C
« Last Edit: December 07, 2019, 12:45:55 AM by Shipka »

Offline Shipka

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    • RussoTurkishWar1877
Re: A Question about a photo/1890's Chinese Wear
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2019, 10:34:43 AM »
I ran across another period photo of soldiers holding similar sticks

Offline WuZhuiQiu

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Re: A Question about a photo/1890's Chinese Wear
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2019, 03:11:05 PM »
The long sticks in the first picture almost resemble sugar cane! Whatever the material, might they be for "gentle" crowd-clearing or a symbol of the mandarin's power to order punishment?

The "sticks" in the second picture seem rather flat - might they be blades, instead?

Offline Kommando_J

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Re: A Question about a photo/1890's Chinese Wear
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2019, 06:14:48 PM »
I had thought maybe the sticks being attached to the belts maybe part of some type of litter/palanquin type device with the belts allowing the bearers to go ''hands free''.

And thank you for the info Shipka, it's all very fascinating.