Ling Trousers with Griffin-themed Petalled Floral Medallion

This pair of pants was made of ling, a monochromatic silk twill, adorned with a design known as “bring light to jin-silk foundation” (“锦地开光”, an auspicious saying in Chinese), namely, decorating a grid-foundation fabric with floral medallions. The foundation of this piece features rings and lines, similar patterns to which can be found on the Yuan-dynasty murals in Yongle Palace of Shanxi as well as in the book Ying Zao Fa Shi (营造法式), a Song-dynasty classic on architecture and craftsmanship. The floral medallions outlined with six petals on this item are themed on Griffin, a mythical Greek beast with an eagles’ beak, four legs, a long tail, two horns and wings.
Four belt loops made of brown juan line on the waistband, the lining of which can still be found with traces of leather, indicating that inserting leather lining into pant waistbands might be a common practice during that period. Lying through the belt loops there is a blue-juan belt, from which hang two blue-juan strips, probably used for tying the boot-shaft covers.