How did the purpose of Chinese ivory tablets change from the Zhou dynasty to the Ming dynasty?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Inupiat shaman's figure. — ivory carving Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.

In ancient China, the purpose of ivory tablets, known as hu, evolved significantly from the Zhou dynasty through the Ming dynasty.1

Zhou Dynasty: These tablets were narrow memorandum tablets that became fashionable for princes and high officials to carry as girdle pendants.1
Han Dynasty: The tablets transitioned into symbols of rank and became a required accessory for formal dress.1
Tang and Song Dynasties: The tablets were greatly elongated and served a dual purpose: they were carried by court officials as a type of sceptre and continued to function as a surface for writing memoranda.1
Ming Dynasty: The tablets maintained their status as a mark of high court rank until the dynasty's fall in the 17th century.1

While the tablets remained a symbol of status, their utility shifted from personal memorandum tools to formal regalia and ceremonial sceptres over these centuries.1