Military badge of the fifth rank depicting a bear (one of a pair)

清緙絲五品武官熊眤子

The custom of using badges depicting birds and animals to indicate ranks began in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and continued into the Qing dynasty. Civil officials wore badges with birds, while military officials wore badges with animals. The image of a bear on this badge represents the fifth military rank.

Such badges were worn on the front and back of a court surcoat (loose outer coat). The badge on the back is whole while the one on the front is halved to accommodate the split front of the garment.