Page:The costume of China, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings.pdf/239

 A MANDARIN

attended by a Domestic.

Though chairs are commonly used in China, yet the Chinese sometimes choose to sit in the manner of the Turks.

This Mandarin, habited in his court attire, is one of the literati, and a civil magistrate, which is known by the bird embroidered in the badge on his breast: his high rank and honour are likewise denoted by the red ball and peacock's feather Avith three eyes attached to his cap, as also by the beads of pearl and coral appending from his neck; he is sitting in form on a cushion, smoaking, and waiting the arrival of a visitor.

The servant bears in his hand a purse containing tobacco for his master; his girdle encloses a handkerchief, and from which also hangs his tobacco pouch and pipe. On the walls of the apartment Chinese characters are painted, signifying moral precepts.