The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-03-30
CHINESE OFFICIAL INSIGNIA.
Quaint Heraldic Emblems Of Civic
and Military Designs.
Buttons Worn Among the Celestials
Which Indicate Descent from Fam
lilies of High Rsnk-Fig-
ures Used Symbols

ures Used as symbols
Nothing is more complicated than
Chinese etiquette, said DIR. Edward
Bcdloe, eN-conSul TO Annoy, TO
Washington Post reporter. a master
of Debrett and Burke is n novice be
side n Celestial master of ceremonies.
Nevertheless. the latter's system is def
mite, if elaborate, and he has many
official landmarks whereby To shape
his course. One of the most important
of these is the button which is worn by
every mandarin on the top of his hat.
Each of the nine ranks of Chinese has
it's particular button and the second
degree of the first and second ranks are
also marked by separate buttons. The
official list is as follows:
First ranl<-First degree, light coral
red button; second degree, deep coral
red button. Second ran<-First de
gree, light crimson button; second de-
gree, dark crimson button. Third
rank-Both, light clear blue. Fourth
ranl1-Dark Prussian blue. Fifth
Quartz, glass or crystal sixth
Opaque white. Seventh and eighth
-Gilded, yellow or gold. Ninth-Sil-
yer or silver-white.
1t will be seen that n red button in
dicates high rank. The rank in gen
eral is personal rather than official.
Thus, for example, taotarship Is an
office of the third rank, and its button
is "A light, clear blue. Yet many tao
tatis, if not n majority of the class,
are decorated with red buttons. 1t
even happens that n person of the sec
Ond rank, through misfortune or polit-
ical vicissitudes, will hold an office of
the fifth or sixth rank. In such case
he would still wear his red button, and
in many official events would be pre-
ceded by an official of n dark blue or
crystal button. For this reason 1t is
often very difficult TO tell the official
rank of mandarins 10y their buttons.
Nor is the difficulty lessencd by the
embroidered insignia upon the wear
ing apparel. This is more elaborate
than the buttons, but, like the latter,
does not discriminate between rank
and position.
To overcome the difficulty the Chi
nese resort to several eXpedients. One
is the card on which is written n full
statement of the owners rank, degree
and position. Another consists of hav-
ing the same facts painted upon the
lanterns with which all chairs are pro-
vided. These can be read with equal
ease day or night. The third is used
for the information of the public and
consists in having the name and all
title yarved in large, bold characters
on l,.r- red boards, which are carried
by coolies. Mandarins who have re-
ceived many honors will frequently
have as many as twenty of these red
boards. Where an official has retired
from service he is still entitled tC
place these boards at the entrance OF
his residence. a fourth mode rcscm-
bles the preceding and applies &c
junlls or vessels in which a mandarin
travels. The characters are written
upon flags, which are fastened To the
mast and elsewhere in lieu of ordinary
bunting. When the present governor
of Formosa left Shanghai on the steam
er Smith no less than thirty banners
of this class were flung to the breeze
from the masts and other parts of the
boat. The embroidered insignias OF
rank and position are placed upon the
front and back of official robes. They
must be of the finest workmanship and
so well executed as to show the design
clearly and accurately. The general
design Tor "A CIVIL OIlttT IL blItl dit
for "A military official a quadruped an
imal The civil list is as follows
ranks and not degrees being discrim
mated:
First, n manchurian crane; second
"A golden pheasant; third, a peacock
fourth, n wild goose; fifth, silver
pheasant; sixth, young egret
seventh, n quail; eighth, long-taileC
jay; ninth, an oriole.
The military list runs: First, uni
corn; second, "A lion; third, a leopard
fourth, n tiger; fifth, a black bear
sixth, "A tiger cat; seventh, n mottieC
bear; eighth, seal; ninth, a rhinoc
eros.
These insignias have been used from
time immemorial, while the button,
are creation of the Manchu con
querurs of China. 1t is a singular fac
that both the lion and rhinoceroS ar,
strangers To the latter country. Tn,
limit of their habitat seems TO be tn,
Ganges and TO have been SO since tn,
tertiary period. The knowledge o
these animals by the Chinese was ac
quired long before the Christian era
when large fleets of junls, naval
ton To nearly every port in IIindoostal
and often brought back these ant
other wild beasts alive. OF late year
etiquette has relaxed considerably il
rauard m both bnttopS and INSIGNIA