Rear Drape

The rear drape 後綬 was a ceremonial ornament that officials wore at the back of a court robe or a ritual robe. It was commonly called the drape 綬. On red background four pairs of cloud-crane pattern are embroidered. At the bottom of the drape, blue threads are woven hung down. The rear drape orginiated from a string that officials wore around the waist to carry the seal during the period of the Northern and Southern dynasties of China. Later, as they do not carry the seal, the string became a ceremonial ornament. During the former Joseon period, the pattern embroidered on the rear drape and the rings attached to it differed according to the wearer's rank. The first- and second-rank officials used cloud-crane pattern and gold rings; the third-rank officials an eagle pattern with silver rings; the fourth-rank officials the magpie pattern with silver rings and the fifth- and sixth-rank officials used the magpie pattern with bronze rings. In the later Joseon period, however, most officials wore a rear drape decorated with cloud-crane pattern and gold rings.

*Designated as National Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 121