Rank structured the full ceremonial wardrobe of Chinese officials

Evidence

At least two times every month, the first and the fifteenth and sometimes oftener, my master put on his official robes and went to the temple with the other officials and worshiped. He looked very grand in his embroidered robes with the mandarin squares front and back and the waves of water around the hem. There were red tassels on his hat and a peacock tail. He was of such a rank that even my mistress had a peacock tail, a very small one, that she fastened to the knot of her hair when she went out on state occasions, and an official button to her hat. But my master looked most beautiful when he was dressed in full military robes to examine the candidates for military degrees or went three li outside the city to meet or escort a high official who was visiting or leaving the city. Then he wore his armour with the great wide shoulders and the embroidered front and his high helmet. (Pruitt, 1967:76-77) Finally, visitors to the preindustrial city, as well as resident aliens, were identifiable not only by their skin color, features, or bone structure, but also by their “national” or regional garb. — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 246