id:			126531
accession number:	1948.69
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1948.69
updated:		2020-11-04 20:17:50.133000

Rank Badge (buzi), 1736-95. China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong reign (1735-95). Silk, satin weave; silk embroidery; overall: 31.8 x 30.5 cm (12 1/2 x 12 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1948.69

title:				Rank Badge (buzi)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			1736-95
creation date earliest:		1736
creation date latest:		1795
current location:		
creditline:			Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong reign (1735-95)
technique:	silk, satin weave; silk embroidery
department:	Textiles
collection:	Textiles
type:		Embroidery
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 31.8 x 30.5 cm (12 1/2 x 12 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		A Study Exhibition of Chinese Textiles of the Ming and Ch'ing Periods
	opening date:   1947-12-12T05:00:00
	<i>A Study Exhibition of Chinese Textiles of the Ming and Ch'ing Periods</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 12, 1947-October 9, 1948).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

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fun fact: 


digital description: 


wall 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 (<em>kesi</em>) 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.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1948.69/1948.69_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1948.69/1948.69_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1948.69/1948.69_full.tif