See illustration of one
The three circular badges are from a group which were affixed to black silk robes worn by participants at the ceremonies at the Temple of Heaven, conducted by the northern general Yuan Shikai, following his establishment of the Republic of China in 1912. The officials of first rank wore nine medallions with nine of the twelve symbols; second rank wore seven medallions with seven of the symbols; the third, five with five symbols; and the fourth, three with three symbols. The lowest rank wore plain, undecorated robes. For an example of one of these badges, as well as a photograph of the actual ceremony, see Valery M. Garret, Chinese Clothing, New York, 1994, p. 98, fig. 8.1 and 8.2. See, also, a robe from the ceremony decorated with seven medallions, each with seven of the Imperial symbols, illustrated by John E. Vollmer, Decoding Dragons: Status Garments in Ch'ing Dynasty China, University of Oregon Museum of Art, 1983, p. 176, pl. 120. A pair with nine of the Imperial Symbols was sold in these rooms, September 21/22, 1995, lot 536