18TH-19TH CENTURY

The xiapei was worn by the wives of Han Chinese officials, who applied badges representing their husband's rank to the front and back. In this case, the badges display the paradise flycatcher, indicating that the wearer was the wife of a ninth-rank civil official. The four-clawed mang dragons beneath the badge indicate the wearer's hereditary title, which in this case could have been junjun (Lady of a Commander), xianjun (Lady of a County) or xiangjun (Lady of a Township).