Artwork Page for Rank Badge (buzi)

Details / Information for Rank Badge (buzi)

Rank Badge (buzi)

c. 1500–1550

China, Ming dynasty

(1368–1644)
Medium
silk; slit tapestry weave (kesi)
Measurements
Overall: 32 x 36.1 cm (12 5/8 x 14 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1985.32
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

This badge with paired mandarin ducks would have been for a civil officer of the 7th rank.

Description

Rank badges (also called rank insignia or Mandarin squares) were used in China during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties to demonstrate the wearer’s rank. In 1391 new clothing regulations directed court officials to wear decorative squares indicating their rank—birds for civil officials and animals for military officials. During the Qing dynasty rank badge design was regulated, and certain creatures were associated with specific ranks. Qing badges depict a representation of the universe with a landscape and a central creature, surrounded by clouds and facing the sun. The sun represented the emperor and this composition showed the official’s loyalty to him. An official’s wife wore rank badges that mirrored her husband’s. Most of the examples in CMA’s collection depict creatures facing a sun on the left. Attached to the front and back of a ceremonial robe, rank badges were woven in pairs with identical imagery. One was divided vertically up the center to attach to the front of a robe with a center opening. Rank badges are generally square or rectangular, although round examples exist. They are typically satin weave or slit tapestry weave (kesi) silk. Satin weave badges often have dark backgrounds with silk and/or metal thread embroidery. Some badges incorporate peacock feathers or beads. Late in the Qing dynasty appliqué replaced embroidery to allow for quicker production and a change in rank.
A square silk textile depicts two mirrored birds, one flying above the other, both with spread wings and feathers in the same muted pink, blue, cream, and green coloring as the undulating background. Flanking them float pink and red petal-like clusters like flowers. Above and below, pink and blue tendrils spiral in on themselves.

Rank Badge (buzi)

c. 1500–1550

China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

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