The Empress's Earrings

The prescribed arrangement

Earrings were part of the Qing empress's regulated ceremonial adornment, not merely ordinary ornaments worn by women at court. In juan 6, the *Illustrated Regulations for the Ceremonial Paraphernalia of the Imperial Court* prescribes three earrings for each ear of the empress dowager and the empress. Each ornament featured a gold dragon holding two eastern pearls (*dongzhu*) of the prescribed highest grade. Imperial noble consorts, noble consorts, consorts, and concubines were also subject to a three-per-ear arrangement, but the grades of pearls differed according to status.

The expression “three on the left and three on the right” means three pieces in each ear, not three in total. The Palace Museum situates earrings among the components of a complete court-dress ensemble, alongside the court crown, head and neck ornaments, court beads, and decorated kerchiefs.

Evidentiary limits

The position of empress was established through imperial appointment and investiture. Neither the number of earrings nor the presence of valuable pearls proves that a portrayed woman held that title. Researchers should examine the gold-dragon form, pearl grade, number and arrangement of earrings, and other costume elements. Regulations for different palace ranks must remain distinct when attributing jewelry or reconstructing court dress.

Related encyclopedia entry: The Empress's Court Crown.

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