The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-06
ETIQUETTE IN CHINA.
xAsTEn OF CEREMOSIssIS THAT
COUNTRY HAS HARD U0RH.
Zach Of the Nine Ranks Has Ih fhr"c"iAi
Buttops-Embroidsred insg""
Upon the omcisl Robes.

,x-oonsul 10 Annoy. "a master OF Depre'
and Burke IS a novice beside Ceiesua
.a.,o- Of ceremonies. Nevertheless, tn
sat,er's system IL definite, II elaborate
and he has many official landnldiA'
whereby to shape his course. one OF ""'
most important OF these is the Du''o"
witch ,s worn by every mandarin on the
co., % bia hat Each Of the nine ranks
has ifs particular button, and the S-0ol.
degree Of the first and second ranks ar =
also marked by separate Duttohs'
Official list IS as follows;
"EYrst rank-hrst degree light coral
red button. second degree, deep coi"i i'1
button. 49,, .,,,,
second rank-frst degree. light Grim
,son button: second degree, dark cIiH'S0"
button. -,
"Third rank-both, light clear blue
Fourth rank-dark Prussian piue'
'finh--quartz. glass or crystal
''Sixth-opaque white. ,,.. 90
seventh and eighth-glidcd yellow or
gold. A..
s1t will be seen that a red button IN
dictates high iank. The rank in genera -
Sersonal rather than official Ihus, lor
example. a Taoiarship Is an once OF '"e
th,rd rank and its button Is light, clear
blue Yet many taOtatis If not MAORI
~ OF the class. are decorated win rtu
buttons. II even happens that q persoh
OF the second rank. through misfortune
or political vicissitudes. will hold an OF
fee Of the fifth or sixth rank. In suon
n case he would still wear ms reb Du'-
ton. and In many Official events WOMB %
preceded by an official CT dark piIe
- l.tftt reason
often very d.fBcult 20 tell the oinciai
rank Of mandarins by their buttons -Noi
Is the difficulty lessened by the emDroiu-
cred insignia upon the wearing apparel
This is more elaborate than the buttons
but. like the latter. does not discrim-
nate between rank and position.
ITO overcome the difficulty the en-
nese resort TO several expedients. one ~
the card. on which is written full state
1nent of the owners rank, degree ana
position. Such a card in English might
read. smith. baronet. Judge OF Session
Devon Another consists Of having me
same facts painted upon the lanterns with
which all chairs are provided. 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 titles carved in large. bold
characters on long red boards. which are
carried by coolies. Mandarins who have
received many hOnOrs viii frequently
have az many as twenty OF these req
boards. Where an official has retired
from service he IS still entitled 10 place
these boards az the entrance OF his resi-
dence. A fourth mode resembles the pre-
ceding. and applies 10 Junks or vessels
I'm which a mandarin travels. The char
acters are written upon flags. which are
fastened 20 the mast and elsewhere IN
lieu Of ordinary buniii <. When the pres
ent governor of Formosa left Shanghai
on the steamer 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 insgnias of rank and
position are placed upon the front ana
back of official robes. They must be OF
the finest workmanship, and so well exc |
cuted as to show the design clearly and |
accurately The general design for civil |
officer is a bird. and for military official /
a Quadruped animal. The civil list Is as |
follows. ranks and not degrees being dis |
eliminated
"First-a Manchurian Crane.
"Second--A Golden Pheasant.
"Third-A Peacock.
"Fourth-A Wild Goose.
"Fifth-A Silver Pheasant
"Sixth--A Young Egret.
"Seventh--A Quail.
"Eighth-A LOng-taiied Jay.
"Ninth-An Oriole.
The military list runs:
"First-A Unicorn.
"Second-A Lion.
"Third-A Leopard.
"Fourth--A Tiger
"Fifth-A Black Bear.
"Sixth-A Tiger Cat.
"Seventh-A Notified Bear.
"Eighth-A Seal.
"Ninth-A Rhinoceros.
These insignias have been used from |
time immemorial. while the buttons are
n creation Of the Manchu conquerors Of
China. 1t is a singular fact that both
the lion and the rhinoceros are strangers
10 the latter country. The limit OF their
habitat seems to be the Ganges. and TO
have been 50 since the tertiary period
The knowledge Of these animals by the
Chinese was acquired long before the
Christian era. when large fleets of junks
naval, pirate. or commercial. wen; from
Canton 10 nearly every port in Hindoos-
tan. and often brought back these and
other wild beasts alive.
'Of late years etiquette has relaxed
in regard TO both buttons
and insignia. The silver white or but
ton of the ninth rank has been almost
discarded, and the golden one
of the seventh and eighth put in its stead.
'In ancient years the different orders of
Chinese nobility were distinguished more
by the crowns worn by each rank than
by the insignia. The custom was abolish
ed by the Manchoos. who substituted the
button. the latter being symbolic OF ser
vtude, while the former represents au-
If not liberty
Another cause of confusion in the use
OF buttons and insignias lies in the ever
power Of wealth to secure these
honors by purchase. Originally they
meant pedigree. military herosm. gem
eralship, or intellectual ability. literary
culture or eminent philanthropy Their
ownership indicated distinction of some
kind 10 high degree. This is so no
longer. Ambitious officials are permitted
20 wear them in high honorary ranks. In
Canton and Hankow several magistrates
OF the seventh rank have purchased the
right. and now wear light blue buttons
One, a very rich Cantoneser. unconscious
~ reflects upon the decadence of the
lines by using as button a magnificent
worth kings ransom Even
private citizens are allowed 10 crafty
their vanity in this manner. A wealthy
tea-taster IN Tamsui, whose education
would not allow him TO become an official
of the lowest class. secured the privi-
lege OF wearing a dark blue button by
paying heavy sum of money to the pow
ers that be- He Is said to have paid down
w 900 for the baubic.
quite as bad as this corrupt practice is
the diplomatic custom Of securing the
services and friendship OF great criminals.
pirates and traitors by the bestowal OF
rank and office. This was repeatedly
an,a durfpo tho TaeDins Rebellion. when