Message from jchristensen

For 7th grade students studying the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this is a good site to explore.

The Asia Pacific Museum has an online exhibit called "Rank and Style: Power Dressing in Imperial China." It is available in either html or Flash Index. The backgound information is not too dificult for students to comprehend. Maneuverability within the site is simple and straight-forward.

After a brief introduction about the history of the badges, the student can enter one of five folders. The first, "Dragons and Phoenixes: Badges for the Imperial Family" includes 28 images. Each image can be enlarged. A short description accompanies each image.

The images are colorful and enlarging them does not take away from appreciating the detail because the focus function of the Flash keeps the image clear. One can see the individual threads and the color combinations of the embroidery. Examples of the symbols, the crane, clouds, the deer, are shown with a brief description. The eight Buddhist emblems are beautiful in red and blue. The eight immortals attributes are labled as are the five poisons: toad, lizard, centipede, snake and scorpion. One can search the emblems for the symbols.

The dragons emblazoned on the Emporers' robes are spectacular. Rank badges for the military feature lions and tigers and the symbolic meaning is explained. Civil Officials, the mandarins, had 9 ranks represented by birds. Each badge is explained and the rules of behavior by rank of the mandarins is delineated. Did you know that mandarins could not walk? They were required to travel by sedan chair and with an appropriate number of attendees, sometimes as many as 50.

This is an interesting site to share with students. It could easily be tied into an art project, a written assignment, or a posterboard presentation.

http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/rankandstyle/index.stm