鞶

A wide, rigid leather belt or girdle. In the context of Zhou through Han dynasty attire, it served as the formal foundation for attaching swords, knives, or rank-signifying pendants.

Primarily nominal.

Contrast with 帶 (dài): while 帶 is a general term for a belt or sash (often silk or fabric), 鞶 specifically denotes leather and implies greater width, rigidity, and an association with official rank or military gear. The compound 鞶帶 refers generally to waist-gear but retains the formal connotation of 鞶.

The choice of 鞶 over 帶 typically signals a shift toward formality, archaism, or structural necessity. In passages concerning investiture or military equipment, it should be treated as the heavy leather cinch required to support the weight of official accoutrements.