gardenofthefareast:A VERY RARE GOLD BROCADE RANK BADGE OF A QILIN, BUZI MING DYNASTY, 15TH/16TH CENT
gardenofthefareast:A VERY RARE GOLD BROCADE RANK BADGE OF A QILIN, BUZIMING DYNASTY, 15TH/16TH CENTURY Made for an imperial noble. The square badge (buzi) is woven with gold thread on a midnight blue satin ground with a crouching muscular qilin, with dragon head, scaly body and hoofed legs. The beast partially resting on a rocky outcrop above rolling and cresting waves. To the sides are lotus, lingzhi and bamboo growing from rocky cliffs. The sky is filled with ruyi-shaped clouds and flames. Rank badges were first introduced shortly after the establishment of the Ming dynasty in 1368. The earliest laws governing rank badges date from 1391. Those laws specified that imperial dukes were permitted to wear badges decorated with the mythical qilin. However, during the Ming period, the right to actually wear the appropriate badge also had to be granted by the emperor himself as an honor. Rank in itself did not entitle even the highest noble to wear rank badges. (Source) -- source link
#chinese mythology#mandarin square#rank badge#motifs#symbolism#lingzhi#bamboo#brocade#hanfu accessories#ming dynasty#history#reference