Manchu official headwear
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The headwear of an official during the Manchu Dynasty in China consisted of (in winter) a black velvet cap, or (in summer) a hat weaved in rattan or similar materials, both with a finial on top. Red tassles extended down from the finial, and a large peacock feather (with one to three "eyes") or pheasant feather (for lower ranks) could be attached to the back of the cap.
The colour and shape of the finial depended on the wearer's grade. The royalty and nobility used various numbers of pearls. An officer of the first grade wore a translucent red ball (originally ruby); second grade, solid red ball (originally coral); third grade, translucent blue ball (originally sapphire); fourth grade, solid blue ball; fifth grade, translucent white ball (originally crystal); sixth grade, solid white ball (originally mother of pearl). Officers of the seventh to ninth grade wore gold balls of varied designs.
The Qing official also wore a mandarin square.
See also: