coat (clothing: outerwear); surcoat; rank insignia

A man's surcoat, bufu, made of black silk damask, collarless and fastened down the front opening with loops and five spherical gold-coloured metal buttons. The buttons are inscribed with the Chinese character shou, which denotes longevity or immortality. The sleeves are wide, straight and full length. The sides and centre back have deep vents. The fabric is a damask weave with roundels and depicts two confronting birds set in a fret-patterned background. A mandarin square, or rank badge, buzi, is applied to the front, where it is made of two equal sized pieces, and to the centre of the back. It depicts a lion and denotes a military officer of the second rank. The lion, worked in silver and gold-coloured metal-wrapped thread, has a green mane and tail, red tongue, horn, and nose and is looking towards a red sun in the top left hand corner. It stands on a rocky outcrop amidst choppy water. The sky is an interlinked blue and gold circular pattern and the frame is a fret pattern. The robe is lined with blue damask.

Collection Information

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