The Nine Ranks System

During the Ming dynasty all government officials and their wives were required to wear badges specifying their social class. Military officials wore large animal badges because animals were hunters and tied to the earth in the same way as the soldiers. Scholars wore bird badges because birds could fly to the heavens as a scholar's mind could soar through human knowledge. The wives of the officials wore a smaller version of their husband's badge. The imperial family also wore badges. The imperial badges were embroidered with dragons and colors that corresponded with rank. These badges were an unneccesary waste of time and silk. The differences between social classes was already prominent and people should not have been judged by their status or wealth. The badges were innapropriate and said absolutly nothing about a person's character. The status insignias were very similar to the Jews being forced to wear the yellow star. It was wrong when Hitler did it and it was just as wrong when the Ming dynasty did it. The creation of the Nine Ranks system was a horrible event that allowed for inequality and segregation, problems that are still being faced world-wide.