Who wears rank badges and why

Your guide
Your guide, a 1st rank mandarin

Rank badges were worn by Chinese officials as a sign of their rank or importance. I am a government official. There are nine government and nine military ranks - 1st rank is the most important and 9th the least.

How can you tell the military officials from the civil officials you might ask.

Badges of government officials have birds and those of military officials are decorated with animals.

Crane rank badge
This is a crane rank badge. The crane symbolises long life and immortality. A 1st rank government official would have worn this badge.

Lion rank badge
The lion symbolises valour and energy. A 2nd rank military official would have worn this badge.

Find out what the other officials' symbols mean.



Back to the top