A lapis lazuli and jadeite court necklace (Chaozhu), Qing dynasty

Paris Private Collection

In accordance with the imperial rites enshired in the Huangchao liqi tushi [Illustrations of imperial ritual paraphernalia], the Qing emperor was required to wear different court necklaces for different religious occasions: amber or beeswax necklaces for earth sacrifices, red coral necklaces for sun sacrifices, turquoise necklaces for moon sacrifices, and lapis lazuli necklaces for heaven sacrifices.

While other members of the aristocracy were also permitted to wear chaozhu of various designs, these were distinguished from that of the emperor by the colour of the tassles used: bright imperial yellow (minghuang) for the Emperor and the Crown prince; gold-yellow (jinhuang) for the princes, and blue-black (shiqing) for other members of the aristocracy.