Pair of Qing Dynasty Civil Rank Badges with Egrets

Vividly colored pair of 19th century civil rank badges (buzi) decorated with an egret, denoting a civil servant of the Sixth Rank. The badges are worked in flat stitch embroidery on a dark blue silk background, with the bird tinged slightly pink, and the border a bright gold color. The bird is perched on a rock surrounded by green waves and blue clouds. 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. A badge featuring a bird identified the wearer as a civil official, possibly because of birds' literary associations. Each rank was represented by a different species, and while there were slight variations over time, by the Qing Dynasty the order from highest to lowest was: (1) crane, (2) golden pheasant, (3) peacock, (4) wild goose, (5) silver pheasant, (6) egret, (7) mandarin duck, (8) quail and (9) paradise flycatcher. Wives were also entitled to wear badges of their husbands’ rank on black surcoats for official occasions. Women's badges can be distinguished from the men's by the placement of the red sun...

Qing Dynasty woven rank badge decorated with a Golden Pheasant, denoting a civil official of the Second Rank. This badge depicts a pheasant against a dark blue background, its wing...

Pair of Qing Dynasty Embroidered Imperial civil officer rank badges with pheasant alighting astop a rock emerging from cloud and waves surrounding with auspicious symbols. Each singl...

A fine Korean silk embroidered rank badge (Hyungbae in Korean) from Joseon Dynasty circa late 19th century. The badge features a design of double flying cr...