The fish-emblem pouch began in the Tang as a practical badge of office and evolved into a clear mark of rank. …
The fish-emblem pouch began in the Tang as a practical badge of office and evolved into a clear mark of rank. In the Tang system, officials carried paired "fish tokens," one left at the gate, one carried on the person, both engraved with the holder's name and matched on entry; these tokens were kept in a pouch, hence the name. By the Song, the token practice fell away. Instead, fish-shaped ornaments in gold or silver were worn on the belt (usually hanging at the back) and became the direct, visible sign of an official's status, while the pouch itself also served to hold small personal items.