Lot Essay
A very similar badge, but of slightly later date, is illustrated by John E. Vollmer, Decoding Dragons: Status Garments in Ch'ing Dynasty China, University of Oregon Museum of Art, 1983, p. 109, pl. 64. Compare, also, an example illustrated by Schuyler Camman, University Museum Bulletin, 'Chinese Mandarin Squares', vol. 17, no. 3, University of Pennsylvania, 1953, fig. 21 (no. 66)
The xiezhai is a mythical lion-like animal with a lion's tail and paws and a single horn. Cammann discusses the appearance of this animal on badges and states that, "Chinese tradition for nearly two thousand years had claimed that the hsieh-chai could distinguish good from evil, and used its horn to gore the wicked. Therefore, it had long been a symbol of justice. This made it appropriate as a badge for imperial censors, for the latter were required to report any breach in the honesty and integrity of other officials." See Schuyler V.R. Cammann, "Birds and Animals as Ming and Ch'ing Badges of Rank", Arts of Asia, May-June, 1991, pp. 88-94, where an 18th century censor's badge is illustrated on p. 94, fig. 14
The xiezhai is a mythical lion-like animal with a lion's tail and paws and a single horn. Cammann discusses the appearance of this animal on badges and states that, "Chinese tradition for nearly two thousand years had claimed that the hsieh-chai could distinguish good from evil, and used its horn to gore the wicked. Therefore, it had long been a symbol of justice. This made it appropriate as a badge for imperial censors, for the latter were required to report any breach in the honesty and integrity of other officials." See Schuyler V.R. Cammann, "Birds and Animals as Ming and Ch'ing Badges of Rank", Arts of Asia, May-June, 1991, pp. 88-94, where an 18th century censor's badge is illustrated on p. 94, fig. 14