Mandarin Duck, Seventh Rank Civil Official
Every official wore two badges: one on the front and one on the back of a plain overcoat. Civil officials wore badges with birds (like this mandarin duck), while military officials wore badges with animals. Since birds could fly into the heavens, they were considered superior to animals, and Qing society valued the erudition of scholars over the bravery of the military. The imperial government published books of rules about what officials should wear and how badges should be decorated.