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Coat of arms of Daqianguo

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The emblem of the Shí Dynasty.

The emblem of Dàqiānguó is that of the ruling Shí Dynasty and its government. It consists of the character 實 shí, for the name of the dynasty, in a stylized circular form in the middle of a decorative cartouche. The whole is rendered in the dynasty's colors of blue and yellow.

The term "coat of arms" is sometimes applied to this emblem, though the term is more properly restricted to the escutcheon-centered heraldic devices found in Alexandria and its neighbors. The comparison is, however, not entirely without merit; the emblem falls into a Daqianese tradition of symbolism that might be called a form of heraldry, loosely belonging to a category of symbols called jiāwén. Though typically used to demonstrate affiliation with, or ownership by, families and their members, they are used similarly by organizations that are considered to have familial aspects to them; given that the emperors of Dàqiānguó have tended to emphasize their parental bond with their subjects, the use of a jiāwén is probably not surprising.

There is a distinction, however, between this emblem - that of the Dynasty as an institution - and the jiāwén of the imperial family. Despite the familial connotations, the former is a governmental symbol, signifying allegiance to the office of the Emperor and the state that serves him, while the latter denotes a more personal affiliation; to receive a letter stamped with the Emperor's personal jiāwén is a rare honor indeed.