Pair of Yuan Shikai Roundels

When he became the first president of the Republic of China in 1912, Yuan Shikai wanted to emulate the old imperial ranking system. These roundels were made to be worn by officials on their robes during ceremonies and seasonal rituals. Both the amount of symbols on the roundels and the amount of roundels worn signify the rank of the wearer – seven being the lowest, twelve being the highest.

These roundels each have seven silk embroidered symbols – the fu in the center surrounded by a libation cup, fire, seaweed, a pheasant, grain, and an axe. The symbols are enveloped in clouds on a silk ground.