225
A RARE CENSOR RANK BADGE IN SUMMER SILK BROCADE, China, Qing dynasty, first half 19th century
h cm 33,5 x l cm 33,5
Well decorated with polychrome colors with the mythological creature xiè zhì on a rock under the sun among clouds, flowers, lingzhi, peaches, bats, waves and bajixian.
Provenance: from an Italian private collection.
Catalog notes:
Xiè zhì is a white animal with dragon head, lion body, bear tail, mane, paws and a single horn on the head. This creature can determine the truth by lying, and that is why it was the symbol of the bureaucrats' censors. This group of appointed officials conducted investigations on behalf of the Emperor in order to detect wrongdoing or inefficiency among bureaucrats.
官服补子，中国，清，十九世纪
官服补子，中国，清，十九世纪