旄 (máo) - banner decorated with animal hair or feathers & ancient military standard

旄Tone 2

máo ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

旄 · máo

banner decorated with animal hair or feathers;

ancient military standard;

also refers to the tufted end of a banner or flagstaff.

banner decorated with animal hair or feathersancient military standardalso refers to the tufted end of a

Usage highlights

banner with yak tailfeathered bannermilitary standardbanner decorationyak tail decorationbanner head

Synonyms

  • 旗— flag, banner
  • 旌— banner, pennant
  • 帜— flag, sign

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The commander held the banner high (旄旗).
  • Ancient Chinese armies used banners with yak tails (旄节).
  • The general's standard was decorated with feathers (羽旄).
  • He waved the tufted banner to signal the troops (挥旄).

Collocations

  • banner with yak tail(旄节)
  • feathered banner(羽旄)
  • military standard(旄旗)
  • banner decoration(旄饰)
  • yak tail decoration(旄牛之尾)
  • banner head(旄头)

Idioms

  • Banners and flags filling the sky(旌旄蔽空)
  • Feathers and yak tails in procession(羽旄成行)
  • Waving banners and flags(旌旄摇曳)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used as military standards in ancient China, often decorated with yak tails or feathers to denote rank and command.
  • Appears in classical texts like the Book of Songs and historical records describing military formations and ceremonies.
  • The 'maotou' (旄头) referred to vanguard troops or celestial phenomena in ancient astronomy.

FAQ