A mandarin square is a large embroidered badge sewn onto the surcoat of an official in imperial China. The animal-insignia inside the square indicates the rank of the official that wore it.

During the Qing Dynasty the Dragon in various poses were reserved for the royalty and nobility. Civil officials' insignias were birds while militiary officers' were beasts.

Musicians used the Oriole.

The handiwork of the embroidery on the squares are very delicate and colourful.

Another piece of wardrobe Qing bureaucrats wore was the Manchu official headwear.