This pair of rank badges was made using gold thread couching and features the bird and sun motifs with waves. The decorative border of the badges, a silver pheasant in the centre and the fact that the front badge was split in two halves to accommodate the opening of the bufu (robes or surcoats) indicate that these type badges were worn by officials serving in the imperial court of the Qing dynasty. These badges were made to be worn by a fifth rank civil official. Peranakan men would buy these badges and wear them as symbols of rank, status and identity within the Southeast Asian Chinese community, in spite of the fact that they did not actually serve in the imperial court. These badges are important as they show the relations between diasporic Chinese community in Southeast Asia and China.
