China's crown width system was first established in Xia and Shang Dynasties and perfected in Zhou Dynasty. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, after the hierarchy was gradually determined, it adapted to the social class system of "no one can take it". By the turn of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was brought into the rule of etiquette. In order to show honor and dignity, royal officials should wear crowns in an orderly manner on different ceremonial occasions. Dress in different forms, colors and patterns.
When people in China talk about dragons, besides colorful dragon folk customs, they also talk about a special costume-dragon robe. For a long time, it is a symbol of China's imperial power and an integral part of the dragon culture. In fact, the dragon robe was designated as the emperor's formal dress. The history is not too long, and it originated in the Ming Dynasty 600 years ago.
Before the Ming Dynasty, emperors in China also wore "dragon robes", but they were obviously different from later emperors.
First, looking at the dragon patterns in the pre-Qin period, the images are relatively simple and rough, and most of them have no limbs and claws, similar to reptiles. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, the dragon patterns were mostly animal-shaped, with intact limbs and claws, but without scales. They are often depicted as walking patterns, giving people an ethereal feeling, unlike the dragon robes that people are familiar with today.
Second, and most importantly, before the Ming Dynasty, although the dragon suit was a symbol of authority, it was not necessarily the "patent" of the emperor alone, and other nobles could also wear the so-called "dragon robe".
The sun and the moon are located on the shoulders respectively. Generally speaking, it is the left sun, the right moon and the red sun in the white moon. The sun often paints with the sun, which is the general pattern of the sun pattern after the Han Dynasty. It is based on a series of myths and legends such as "Japan has the sun" and "Houyi shoots the sun". Toads or white rabbits are often painted on the moon, which is the general pattern of the moon pattern after the Han Dynasty, based on beautiful myths and legends such as "the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon".
So far, there is no archaeological discovery to prove that emperors before the Ming Dynasty all had their own robes. For example, every emperor in the Yuan Dynasty had a portrait before his death. Their clothes are simple and they don't have robes. However, although the concept of dragon robe has not been strengthened, in previous emperors, dragon robe was also used as a formal dress. The word "dragon robe" has been used in the novels of Song and Yuan Dynasties.
Extended data:
Manufacturing technology of dragon robe
The open space of the dragon robe is generally Chu yellow. There are nine dragons embroidered on the dragon robe with five-color clouds in the middle. There are 1 straight dragons in the front and back of the collar, 1 straight dragons in the front and back of the knees, and 1 straight dragons in the sleeves.
The dragon robe is not for the emperor. It can be worn above the county level, but it can't be yellow, and other officials can't wear it. Only when the emperor gives them a kiss can they wear it, but they must "pick their claws" to show the difference. In the Ming Dynasty, the reformed robes, called embroidered robes, became the official clothes of the Ming Dynasty.
The color choice of robes is very researched and very strict. Xia advocated black, Zhou advocated red, Qin advocated black, and Han inferred that Zhou advocated red. The robes worn by Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty were yellow for the first time, and for a long time after that, yellow was the noblest, symbolizing the central government. So this trend continued until the end of the feudal dynasty.
The colors of the figures on the robe are composed of light moon white, pinyue and plain blue, and the "bat" has several colors such as vermilion, bordeaux, crimson, incense and bronze. "Ruyitou" consists of bright blue, moonlight, navy blue, pink, pink, bordeaux and snow ash.
The work of robes can be divided into embroidery and silk reeling, among which the silk reeling process is relatively complicated, which is technically called "joining warp and breaking weft". This reeling technology has been circulating in China for a long time. It was mainly used for other decorations in the Song Dynasty and for clothing in the Qing Dynasty. Later, because the silk reeling technology took too long working hours, it was mostly used for dragon robes.
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