The Banner of the Five Great Standards (Wudao Qi)

This banner is of such great weight and significance that it cannot be used within the active movement of battle formations Original: xíngzhèn (行陣). This suggests the banner is intended for stationary grand command posts or ritual displays rather than tactical field maneuvers..

The pole stands sixteen feet high Original: 1 zhang 6 chi. In the Ming Dynasty, this would be approximately 5.1 meters or 16.7 feet., and the flag itself measures ten feet square Original: 1 zhang..

It is crafted from dark-green satin with a border made of white silk damask. The tasseled head of the pole is decorated with intricate bead-work netting Original: zhūluò (珠絡), a decorative latticework of pearls or beads common in high-ranking Ming Dynasty regalia., making it exceptionally magnificent.

While the text focuses on dimensions and materials, the accompanying illustration reveals the flag's symbolic power: it features the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) surrounding the Big Dipper constellation, representing the commander's central place in the cosmic and terrestrial order.

Technical Terms:

• Five Great Standards Wǔdào Qí: Massive ceremonial banners that represented the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.
• Zhang/Chi Traditional units of length; 1 Zhang equals 10 Chi.
• Battle Formations Xíngzhèn: The tactical arrangement of troops on the move.
• Bead-work Netting Zhūluò: A luxurious decorative element using strings of beads.
• White Silk Damask Báilíng: A fine, patterned silk fabric used here for the flag's border.
• Dark-green Satin Hēilǜ duàn: The heavy, lustrous base fabric of the banner.