SUITE OF FOUR BUZI CIVIL OFFICIALS' RANGE INSIGNES in silk embroidered with polychrome and gold threads on a midnight blue background, each one decorated with a bird flying over a band of lishui.
China, Qing dynasty, late 19th century.
In four frames under glass.
A SET OF FOUR EMBROIDERED SILK RANK BADGES, CHINA, QING DYNASTY, LATE 19TH CENTURY.
DIM. (MAX) 30.7 X 29.4 CM (12 1/16 X 11 9/16 IN.)
NOTE The use of square badges, sewn on the front and back of the ceremonial robes of civil and military officers, was instituted by imperial decree in 1391, during the reign of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The insignia were designed to indicate the ranks of the officials, with different species of birds corresponding to the nine civil ranks and animals denoting the military ranks.