Collected Illustrations of the Three Powers: Implements

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The Command Banner

Huī original: "麾" (Huī)

The Command Banner serves as the visual voice of a military leader on the battlefield. Under the established Ceremonial Regulations original: 儀制 (Yízhì), this specific type of flag is used to direct the movements of the various divisions of an army.

As illustrated, the Dragon-Head Command Banner original: 龍麾 (Lónghuī) is distinguished by a pole topped with a carved dragon's head. From the dragon's mouth hangs a rectangular banner, often decorated with a cloud or dragon motif. In ancient tactical manuals, to "point the Huī" was to signal a specific maneuver; the visibility of the banner ensured that even amidst the noise and dust of combat, the commander's will remained clear to his soldiers.

The Imperial Tally-Staff

Jié original: "節" (Jié)

The Imperial Tally-Staff is one of the most ancient and sacred symbols of delegated sovereign power in the Chinese tradition. It is not merely a decorative object but a legal instrument of the state.

The Staff of Authority original: 節杖 (Jiézhàng) consists of a long pole adorned with several tiers of tassels—usually seven tiers, as shown in the diagram—made from yak tails or dyed feathers. Historically, the Emperor would bestow a Jié upon an emissary or a high-ranking regional governor. Carrying this staff granted the bearer the authority to pass through border gates, requisition supplies, and act as the living proxy of the Emperor himself. It represents the "joint" or "link" the character Jié literally means a joint of bamboo between the central throne and the distant reaches of the empire.