This defense is the only piece of its kind known. It is lavishly decorated with a qilin (a mythological creature combining the features of several animals) in gold surrounded by leafy foliage in silver. The qilin was used as a rank badge from the Yuan (1279–1368) through the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), signifying a military official of the first rank, the highest of nine possible ranks for military and civil officials.