Throne Room of Mu Fu

Lijiang Old City

The ruler's leopard-skin throne is flanked by sub-imperial, but still impressive, porcelain vases in typical Qing style (compare: the Hall of Preserving Harmony in the Forbidden City). Under the Qing political system, local rulers were given appropriate honors but handled by "minders" from the capitol who ensured their loyalty. Notice the Dongba script embroidered beneath the throne.