Tally in the shape of a tiger (Hu fu)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In ancient China, bronze tallies were used to verify orders for troop deployment. Usually cast in the shape of a tiger, they consist of two halves with complementary pins and notches on their backs. One half was held by the commanding officer, the other by the emperor. The officer would only accept orders accompanied by the interlocking other half.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art