Dragon Robe (Mangpao)

This imperial robe was made in the early Qing Dynasty. Dragon and cloud patterns are woven along the hem, and the rising wave design at the bottom stands only 14 cm - a characteristic element of dragon robes in their earlier style. A large dragon is placed prominently at the center of the composition, occupying approximately one-third of the robe’s total length. Two smaller confronted dragons are depicted below the large one, and dragons also are shown on each of the shoulders. The single-tail clouds are spaced at large intervals. Unlike the usual diagonal stripes, the rising water pattern on the hem is sinuous, looking more like a mushroom pattern. Although gemstones are embroidered among the waves, no other symbolic patterns are shown; the three-peaked mountain at the center of the hem is rendered very simply compared to later examples.