Sentry Officer’s Identifying Flag

The Sentry Officer’s identifying flag is two feet square and features slanted corners. It includes a decorative streamer three feet in length. The pole used for this flag is a long spear, sixteen feet in length, and the flag is suspended from the very top of the pole.

original: 哨官認旗方二尺、斜角用、邊帶長三尺、桿用長鎗一丈六尺、旗懸至頂、

Sentry Officeroriginal: 哨官 (shàoguān). A tactical commander in the Ming military hierarchy. A Sentry Officer was responsible for a "sentry" (shào), a unit composed of multiple squads, usually totaling between 100 and 150 men.

Identifying Flagoriginal: 認旗 (rènqí). These were "recognition flags" used to identify specific officers on the battlefield. As the officer's rank increased, the dimensions of the flag and the length of the pole increased to ensure visibility over a larger body of troops.

Long Spearoriginal: 長鎗 (cháng qiāng). In the military system popularized by General Qi Jiguang, officers carried their identifying banners on functional weapons. This ensured the flag-bearer could still defend themselves and the commander if necessary.

Foot and Zhangoriginal: 尺 (chǐ) and 丈 (zhàng). Traditional Chinese units of measurement. One zhàng is equal to ten chǐ. A sixteen-foot pole (one zhàng, six chǐ) would stand approximately 5 meters tall.

Slanted Cornersoriginal: 斜角 (xiéjiǎo). This refers to the serrated, flame-like edges of the flag, a common design in Chinese military banners intended to signify movement and vitality while protecting the fabric from tearing in the wind.