Pair of rank badges

Rank badges like these signalled the rank and duties of Qing officials who wore them. The badge with a seam was attached to the front of an official’s surcoat (bifu), the solid one to the back. In the late 19th century, the Qing court sought to raise funds by selling titles to Chinese men residing in the Straits Settlements and the Dutch East indies. Many Peranakans were among the wealthy merchants and community leaders who purchased these titles for themselves and their ancestors. Photographs survive showing Peranakan men posing in their official robes and rank badges.

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