Native Name | Buzi (補子) |
Object Number | 52-23-18 |
Current Location | Collections Storage |
Culture | Chinese |
Provenience | China |
Period | Qing Dynasty |
Date Made | Late 19th Century |
Section | Asian |
Materials | Silk | Gold Thread |
Technique | Embroidered | Satin Stitch | Peking Knot | Couched |
Iconography | Crane | Eight Buddhist Symbols | Lucky Jewels | Bell | Scepter | Sun | Pagoda | Pavilion | Bats | Li Shui | Pearls |
Description | Square rank badge for wife of first rank official. Crane faces the sun as it stands on a rock amidst waves. The bottom edge has the 立水 li shui ('standing water') design denoting deep water. The Buddhist symbols, lucky jewels, bell and scepter float in the sea. On either side are rocks with pagoda, pavilion, fungus and pines. In the sky are five green bats and five Buddhist symbols with clouds on a swastika fret pattern in the background. The Chinese term for swastika is 萬 wan, meaning "myriad" (lit. 'ten thousand') and is meant to invoke the infinite blessings or wishes for happiness for the wearer of the badge. Primarily in satin stitch with Peking knot and couched gold thread on dark blue or black satin. Border is simply couched gold thread. |
Height | 26.5 cm |
Width | 28 cm |
Credit Line | Purchased from J. S. Letcher, 1952 |
Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.