A kylin-patterned patch for the first-rank military officers

Patches, or Buzi in Chinese, were always found on both the front and back of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing's official robes, indicating civilian or military rank. The official costumes, therefore, were often referred to as "patched robes".

The tradition of stitching patches on official costumes dates back to as early as in the reign of Shun Emperor (a legendary sage monarch in ancient China) when twelve silk patterns were often found on the emperors' robes. The patterns included figures of the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the dragons, the birds, the rite vessels, the aquatic plants, the fire, the rice, the axes, and the double-backed bows.

A crane-patterned patch for the first-rank civil officials

In the ancient times, the typical and the earliest emperor's robe was usually decorated with twelve imperial patterns, symbolizing the emperor's sovereign power; only the emperor was entitled to wear these patterns.

By the Zhou Dynasty (1027-777BC), dukes and court officials could also wear the imperial patterns, only not the same number. Usually, the lower the rank, the fewer the imperial patterns on the robes. For example, while twelve patterns were used on the emperor's robe, nine, seven, and five patterns were used for dukes, marquises (noblemen ranking between dukes and counts) and earls respectively. These imperial patterns were believed to be the origin of the patches of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Arthor: Jessie

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