Man's Blue Gauzy Silk Robe Embroidered with Eight Pythons Designs and Horse-hoof-shaped Cuffs

The long silk robe was worn by Manchu or Han officials during the Qing Dynasty (1636—1912). This blue collarless robe features horse-hoof-shaped cuffs. This type of robe is called "Huayi" ("colorful clothing") because it is embroidered with motifs such as rivers, mountains, cranes, bats and pythons ("mang" in Chinese). This robe can be worn alone or worn as a coat in festivals. Robes with the "Mang" motif were only worn by princes, officials and their wives. The color of the robe and the number of Mang correspond to the officials' ranks. Nine Mang are embroidered for officials above the third rank, eight for the fourth through sixth ranks, and five for the officials below the seventh rank.