Mandarin squares. Front square in two halves (a,b) to fit on front opening robe. Back single square (c). Black silk gauze ground, partially filled in with silver pheasant and Buddhist symbols: five bats, wheel, umbrella, lotus, jar, fish, conch shell, sun, mystic knot. Also sea, waves, clouds. Multicolored. Decorative border. Blue silk linings. a, b) L. 28.5cm W. 16 cm; c) L. 28.5 cm, W. 32 cm China, att. Background: silk, gauze weave. Pattern area: untwisted silk, gold and silver wrapped silk; counted thread stitches, couches. Supplementary lining: silk, plain weave. Worn on front and back of a man's robe to signify Fifth Grade rank of civil mandarin. Bird faces right, since mandarin's wife was always seated on his right. Other elements of the costume were prescribed as well. Late 19th c. Symbolism: Silver Pheasant - Fifth rank of civil mandarin; Five bats - five blessings, old age, wealth, health, virtue, natural death; Wheel of Law - Buddhist sovereign rule; Umbrella - Buddhist charm, one of eight treasures; Lotus - summer; Jar - one of eight treasures; Fish - abundance, fertility; Conch shell - emblem of the voice of Buddha; Sun - masculine principle in nature; Mystic knot - longevity Mary V. Hays; S.F., Ca. (personal contact) Williams; Outlines of Chinese Symbolism, pp. 25, 73, 149-151, 203, 220-222, 252, 347-348, 381, 392-394