As Gene has noted, the ring pommel does date well into antiquity, and as it is intriguing to see the dramatic cross cultural movement which largely insist on the symbolic and ritual significance in varying form.
Hilda Ellis-Davidson ("The Sword in Anglo Saxon England" 1962) describes the application of rings on the pommels of swords of 6th-7th centuries, but these are appurtenances rather than entire ringed pommels. On p.75 she notes that most archaeologists have concluded that these rings were most likely symbolic, and covers that in some detail.
In 1930, Stephen Grancsay wrote on the Japanese finds in a tomb in LoYang in Honan Province in China, where two long swords have ringed pommels which enclose symbolic figures of dragons and phoenix respectively.
These swords are believed of probably Sui Dynasty (589-618 AD) or more likely T'ang Dynasty (618-906AD). It is pointed out that the trade from the Occident travelled virtually directly to Honan, a key center in those times.
There seems to have been profound influence of the Japanese courts by the T'ang, and there are said to be about thirty swords with gilt copper ringed hilts in museums.
Other sources note the presence of rings on pommels of knives and daggers existed as early as the Shang (1600 BC-1046 BC) and Western Zhou (1046-771 BC) with the feature extending through through Eurasia. It is believed that the origins may well have been in Southern Siberia in Upper Yenesei and Minusinsk regions during these times. Obviously tradition carried the form itself through time, and bronze gave way to iron. Laufer (1914) notes that iron swords were typically modelled on thier bronze predecessors.
It is interesting to note an esoteric link that may bring together these far separated spheres and emphasize the trade between east and west.
This was the discovery of the 'Pereschepina Treasure' in the Poltava region of Ukraine in S. Russia. The sword found here had a ring type pommel and dates into 7th century. It carried Greek lettering and was believed a gift from Byzantium to the Homogunduri chieftain Khan Khubrat, of Eurasian tribal standing. This was published in Russia in 1985, and here can be seen the presence of the ring pommel, again with decorated ring and much as seen on the two Loyang straight longswords that seem somewhat contemporary.
While early use of the simple ring on bronze knives and daggers in the very ancient dynasties may well have been utilitarian in some fashion, it does seem that tradition carried it to the longswords where it became a device in imbued symbolism. It was clearly well known in Han times, whose traditions have always been strongly revered in China, and whose ancestry they deeply admire. Therefore it would seem that this ringed pommel feature, in simple stylized form, vestigially recalls the importance it held in earlier times and weapons.
Its use to attach various festoons may be considered auspiciously added, or in warfare, indeed used to distract or offset opponents. It is known that red tassels were added near the head of spears, and often bells were added to frighten horses of cavalry. The use of the cloth or tassels in later times in martial arts displays, common throughout the Qing dynasty, and especially well known as observed by westerners during the Boxer Rebellion, seems to have been to dramatically embellish and dramatize the swift movements of the martial artist. It was psychological warfare at its best, and Chinese even many times painted weapons red, as it was the color of war.
These are my findings from the research I have done on this fascinating topic, and look forward to further comments/corrections.
All best regards,
Jim
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