Rank badge with tiger

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Government officials of the Ming and Qing dynasties wore square badges sewn on the front of their robes. These badges were embroidered with birds for civil officials and animals for military officers—each creature corresponding to a specific rank. A symbol of authority and bravery, the tiger adorned the badge of a senior commander (Rank 3) in the Ming and that of a regimental vice commander (Rank 4) in the Qing.

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