Mandarin Square
| Native Name | Buzi (補子) |
|---|---|
| Object Number: | 52-23-59 |
| Current Location: | Collections Storage |
| Culture: | Chinese |
| Provenience: | China |
| Period: | Qing Dynasty |
| Date Made: | Late 19th Century |
| Early Date: | 1875 |
| Late Date: | 1900 |
| Section: | Asian |
| Materials: | Silk Gold Thread |
| Technique: | Embroidered Peking Knot Satin Stitch Couched |
| Iconography: | Quail Sun Li Shui Narcissus Bamboo Fungus Pearls Eight Buddhist Symbols Fish Conch Vase Wheel Of The Law Lotus Canopy Mystic Knot Umbrella Bats Eight Daoist Immortal Symbols |
| Inscription Language: | Chinese Language |
| Height: | 29.8 cm |
| Width: | 30 cm |
| Credit Line: | Purchased from J. S. Letcher, 1952 |
Description
Square eighth rank civil official's badge for front of robe. At center a quail 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. Pearls and four of the eight Buddhist symbols float in the waves: fish; conch; vase; wheel of the law. On the rocky banks fungus, bamboo, narcissus grow. The sky is filled with clouds, five bats, four of the eight Buddhist symbols; lotus; canopy; mystic knot; and umbrella. Greek fret border in couched gold. Background in poor condition. Probably originally laid with gold thread which was removed for re-use. Primarily Peking knot with couched twisted cord and satin stitch. Backing of green patterned silk with symbols of eight Daoist immortals in pattern. Also on backing: "Made in China" stamp; and white paper sticker with two Chinese characters and the number "327".
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