A Brief History of Badges: From Ancient Totems to Digital Identities, an Epic of Civilization in a Small Space

In a corner of the British Museum in London, there lies a Sumerian cylinder seal dating back to around 2600 BCE—a palm-sized cylindrical stone carved with cuneiform script and mythological motifs that leaves a unique impression when rolled onto moist clay. As one of humanity’s earliest identity markers, it served not only as a credential for Sumerian nobles to distinguish property and assert status but also embodied the primitive human desire for self-definition and group identification. Meanwhile, in an office building in Lujiazui, Shanghai, a blockchain engineer is showcasing a newly acquired “digital skill badge” on their phone: an intangible badge issued by an authoritative institution, permanently stored in their professional file as encrypted code, verifiable for authenticity via blockchain, and serving as a digital endorsement of their professional competence.

 

Separated by 5,000 years, spanning the agricultural, industrial, and digital civilizations, with materials evolving from stone to code and forms from physical to virtual, the innate human instinct they carry has never changed—to mark the self, express belonging, and record achievements. This need is rooted in human sociality: we are born to convey “who I am”, “which group I belong to”, and “what achievements I have made” through symbols, and the badge is the most concise, enduring, and communicative carrier of such symbols.

 

This tiny object is a condensed record of the development of human social organization, technological craftsmanship, and identity recognition. Unlike the pyramids or the Great Wall that embody grand narratives, or books and paintings that carry complex ideas, it runs through every key node of civilization in a minimalist form. From ancient tribal totems to modern corporate logos, from knightly orders to fans’ collectible badges, from battlefield emblems to workplace certifications, badges have always played an indispensable role, silently documenting the changes of the times, social evolution, and individual growth.

 

 

 

 

A badge is not a simple “mark” or “ornament” but a composite carrier integrating material, symbolic, and social attributes, which are interrelated and inseparable, forming its core essence that distinguishes it from other cultural symbols.

 

The material attribute is the fundamental premise. A badge is first and foremost a perceivable and identifiable physical or virtual form, with materials ranging from metal, cloth, and ceramic to stone and even digital code. Its value lies in transforming abstract identity recognition, the pursuit of honor, and group belonging into a tangible carrier that can be touched, worn, and displayed: an ancient bronze totem badge is an intuitive proof of tribal identity, a modern metal corporate badge is an external embodiment of professional identity, and a virtual badge in the digital age exists in the form of code, realizing the digital extension of material attributes through screen display and system verification. This materiality grounds abstract spiritual aspirations and enables badges to transmit information across time and space.

 

The symbolic attribute is the core function. A badge encodes meaning through visual elements such as shape, color, pattern, and text to convey precise information, and its design follows strict rules and grammar, much like the vocabulary and sentences of a language. For example, European heraldry has a “color rule” that prohibits the overlay of metallic colors with metallic colors and colored hues with colored hues, which not only ensures visual harmony but also implies hierarchical metaphors; modern corporate badges strictly adhere to brand norms—the red of Coca-Cola conveys passion and vitality, and Apple’s minimalist design highlights innovation and high-end positioning. Badge symbols also have the characteristic of “convention”: the same pattern may have different meanings in different cultural contexts but has a clear connotation in a specific group or scenario, such as the Red Cross badge being recognized worldwide as a symbol of medical rescue.

 

The social attribute is the core of value. A badge is a materialized manifestation of social relations, existing in a specific social context to indicate the relationship between individuals and groups, and between groups and groups. Its value is not determined by material costs but by the social recognition and power relations behind it. A badge cast in gold is merely a precious metal product without social significance; an ordinary metal military medal, though inexpensive, bears national recognition, social respect, and personal honor, with a value far exceeding that of gold. It can construct identity boundaries, strengthen group identification, and assert power hierarchies: the rank badges on the official robes of the Ming and Qing dynasties distinguished the grades of officials, school badges foster a sense of belonging among students, and the badges of lawyers and doctors certify professional competence and ethical conduct. At the same time, the changes in the form and meaning of badges are also a microcosm of the transformation of social structure, values, and technological level.

 

 

Throughout history, the social functions of badges have evolved through four main stages with the upgrading of social structure, technological level, and human needs, always keeping pace with the development of human society and becoming a “witness” of civilizational evolution.

 

Distinction Function (Ancient to Medieval Times): The core was practical differentiation, used to distinguish friend from foe, mark ethnic groups, and label property, serving as a tool for humans to cope with the living environment and safeguard group interests. In the era of ancient tribes, totem badges (with patterns such as lions, eagles, and the sun) were both identification marks on the battlefield and symbols of tribal beliefs and cohesion, such as the eagle badge of the Germanic tribes and the dragon and bear totems of ancient Chinese tribes. After the advent of civilization, the function extended to identity differentiation and property marking: the Roman legions used exclusive eagle emblems to distinguish military units, which were symbols of legionary honor—their loss meant the annihilation of the legion; Sumerian cylinder seals were used to mark land, livestock, and other property, serving as physical evidence of private ownership and early commercial activities; the ancient Chinese system of “banner symbols” distinguished military ranks and arms through different emblems for convenient command and management.

 

Hierarchical Function (Medieval to Early Modern Times): With the complexity of social structure, badges became a visual embodiment of the hierarchical system, with strict regulations on their design, materials, and wearing methods that could not be transgressed. European knightly heraldry is a typical representative: a institutionalized system took shape during the peak of feudalism in the 12th century, where the patterns and colors on shields and armors corresponded to family, honor, and hierarchy—gold symbolized noble blood, red represented courage, the lion pattern of the British royal family asserted royal authority, and the heraldry of ordinary knights was relatively simple. The East also developed a unique system: the rank badges on the official robes of the Ming and Qing dynasties featured “birds embroidered for civil officials and beasts for military officials”—a first-rank civil official had a red-crowned crane embroidered, a first-rank military official a unicorn, a ninth-rank civil official a sparrow, and a ninth-rank military official a seahorse, directly distinguishing official grades; Japanese “kamon” (family crests), with simple geometric or plant patterns, asserted the hierarchy and honor of noble families.

 

Professional Function (After the Industrial Revolution): With the collapse of the feudal hierarchical system and the rise of the professional society, badges shifted from asserting hierarchy to professional certification, becoming proof of professional qualifications and skills and constructing a visual map of social division of labor. After the Industrial Revolution, all walks of life moved toward standardization, and professional badges emerged as the times required, issued by industry associations, government agencies, or enterprises and only obtainable through strict assessments—the lawyer’s badge certifies practicing qualifications and ethics, the pilot’s wing badge reflects professional level and responsibility, and the badges for doctors’ professional titles, firefighters’ medals, and corporate skill badges all serve to mark professional competence and career achievements, promoting the refinement of social division of labor.

 

Emotional Function (Contemporary Society): With the rise of the modern consumer society and subcultures, badges have become a carrier of emotional expression and community identification, with their emotional value far exceeding practical and professional value. In the field of subcultures, badges of anime, fan circles, and rock bands (commonly known as baji in Chinese) are tools for teenagers to express themselves and find like-minded people, carrying their love for idols, works, and cultures. Rare limited-edition badges command a significant premium in the secondary market, which is essentially the materialization of emotional value. Commemorative badges record important life moments—wedding, newborn, graduation, and golden wedding commemorative medals, as well as public welfare badges for environmental protection and anti-epidemic efforts, all carry sincere emotions, beautiful memories, and social resonance, becoming cherished spiritual wealth for people.

 

 

 

The embryonic form of badges can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, closely linked to human survival needs, the emergence of private ownership, and the awakening of community awareness. In the early days, they existed in the form of seals, totems, and emblems, used to mark property, distinguish ethnic groups, and express beliefs. The engraved clay seals discovered at the Çatalhöyük site in Turkey (c. 7500 BCE) are among the earliest identity markers, carved with geometric, animal, and plant patterns and pressed onto pottery to mark the owner, serving as important physical evidence of the origin of private ownership.

 

From the late Neolithic Age to the Bronze Age, totem badges became increasingly rich, emerging as tribal markers and symbols of belief. Tribes adopted patterns of worshipped animals or natural phenomena (eagles in ancient Egypt, bears of the Yellow Emperor’s tribe, and oxen of the Yan Emperor’s tribe in ancient China), believing they possessed extraordinary power to protect the tribe and bring prosperity. Tribal members painted totems on their bodies and clothes, or carved them on stone and pottery to assert their sense of belonging and reverence.

 

With the advent of civilization, the four great ancient civilizations developed distinctive badge systems, with their functions shifting from practical markers to symbols of power, becoming tools for the ruling class to assert status and consolidate power.

 

Ancient Egypt systematized and ritualized badges, with “sacred ornaments” used in court rituals and religious activities, serving as a dual symbol of officials’ identity and belief. The representative wesekh (broad collar) was made of gold, gemstones, and colored glass, carved with the pharaoh’s name, sacred animals (eagles, cobras, scarabs), and religious symbols, acting as both an identity marker and an amulet. The wesekh of officials of different ranks varied in material, pattern, and size—the pharaoh’s being the most magnificent and that of ordinary officials relatively simple; soldiers’ shields were also carved with patterns of fierce animals for convenient battlefield identification and to assert military prestige.

 

Ancient Greek badges were closely linked to military affairs and city-state politics, with each city-state having an exclusive symbol, and the emblems on soldiers’ shields used to distinguish friend from foe and assert city-state honor. The Spartans’ “Λ” (Lambda) mark, the initial letter of the Spartan city-state’s name, was carved on shields and armors, becoming a symbol of military valor and strict discipline; Athens adopted the owl as its symbol, imprinted on currency and the Acropolis buildings, signifying wisdom and victory.

 

Ancient Rome inherited the ancient Greek tradition and constructed the most sophisticated military badge system of the ancient world, centered on the Aquila (eagle standard). Each legion had a golden eagle standard guarded by dedicated soldiers, and its loss meant the annihilation of the legion, serving as the soul and symbol of legionary honor. In addition, each legion had an exclusive emblem (patterns of animals and mythological figures), and officials also had their own markers—the consular scepter badge was carved with eagle and lion patterns to assert power; the laurel wreath badge of senators symbolized wisdom and honor, whose cultural influence extended to the later European knightly heraldry.

 

Badges in ancient China were always linked to military affairs, politics, and rituals. A system of “banner emblems” had taken shape by the Warring States Period, and Mozi · Banners records that “all officials, soldiers, civilians, men and women in the city shall be distinguished by their clothing, badges and emblems”, with different colors and patterns for the emblems of officials, soldiers, and civilians for convenient military command and social management. Nobles and officials also had “pearl pendants and ribbons” and “seals and credentials”: the ribbons were colored silk strips with different colors and styles for different ranks, and the seals were power credentials carved with official positions and names, serving as a direct embodiment of identity and power.

 

 

Medieval Europe represented the first peak of badge culture. The knightly heraldry system gradually took shape and became institutionalized in the 12th century, and heraldry was not merely an ornament but a complex identity coding system that ran through all aspects of social life.

 

Heraldry developed a rigorous “visual grammar”, including usage rules for six standard colors, methods of pattern division, and a symbolic system—a lion symbolized valor, an eagle lofty aspirations, a cross faith, and a lily purity, and different combinations of patterns conveyed information such as family history, marital alliances, and military service experience. For example, adding a “bend” to a coat of arms might indicate that the bearer had participated in the Crusades, and combining family emblems represented the marriage of two noble families.

 

The core function of heraldry was identity recording and social identification. During the medieval period, when nobles intermarried, socialized, and waged wars, they needed to quickly distinguish identities and judge positions through heraldry, which became a “passport” for noble status. To regulate the use of heraldry, the Holy Roman Empire issued the Heraldic Ordinance in 1230, the first systematic legal document in Europe regulating the use of badges, which clearly stipulated the rules for the granting, inheritance, and modification of heraldry, prohibited commoners from using noble heraldry, and imposed fines, deprivation of status, and other penalties on violators.

 

During this period, the craftsmanship of heraldry production also matured, with hand carving and enamel craft widely applied. Heraldic badges were both identity markers and works of art. Nobles would spend a great deal of money hiring top craftsmen to design and make heraldry, with exquisitely crafted and brightly colored emblems on shields, armors, and banners, becoming a display of noble wealth and status.

 

At the same time, the East also developed a unique badge system, with Japanese kamon culture being the most representative. Originating in the Heian period, kamon were initially markers of noble families used to distinguish family and identity, with patterns mainly of simple geometry (diamonds, circles) and plants (cherry blossoms, cypresses, bamboo), featuring a concise and elegant style. The use of kamon was subject to strict regulations, with different patterns, sizes, and scopes of use for nobles and samurais of different ranks that could not be transgressed. Kamon were not only family markers but also symbols of family honor and inheritance, and are still widely used to this day.

 

 

The Industrial Revolution and the rise of nation-states gave birth to two major transformations in badge culture, making badges move from the elite class to popular life with more diversified functions.

 

First, the establishment of the modern national honor system. The modern medal system was basically finalized during the Napoleonic era. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour) established in 1802 broke noble privileges and was awarded based on merit rather than birth. Anyone—noble or commoner, military or civilian—who made contributions to the country could receive the medal, becoming a model for the modern national honor system. Subsequently, European countries followed suit and established their own medal systems, such as Britain’s Victoria Cross and Germany’s Iron Cross, which became important tools for countries to recognize merit and unite national spirit.

 

Second, the rise of popular badges. The stamping technology brought by the Industrial Revolution made the mass production of metal badges possible—a single mold could produce thousands or even tens of thousands of identical badges, significantly reducing production costs; electroplating technology allowed the surface of cheap metals to be coated with precious metals such as gold and silver, which was both beautiful and economical; standardized production unified the size, thickness, and accessories (pins, hangers) of badges, improving their practicality and wearing comfort. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, a large number of political campaign badges, corporate advertising badges, tourist souvenirs, and school badges emerged, and badges began to carry more extensive social functions, becoming a part of popular life.

 

Notably, late Qing China also launched a modern attempt at the medal system. The Order of the Double Dragon established in 1881, divided into five classes and eleven grades, was China’s first modern medal system. Its design integrated traditional dragon patterns with modern star medal elements, reflecting the collision of Chinese and Western cultures. Mainly used to recognize foreign envoys, officials, and meritorious personnel, it marked the beginning of the integration of Chinese badge culture with the world.