This dragon robe is lined with a sheep's fleece. The winters in north China are harsh, and a lining of this sort would have helped keep out the cold. The robe would have been worn indoors as well as out.
Yellow was the colour associated with the imperial court. The emperor and empress were the only people to wear bright yellow. Princes and their consorts were assigned other shades of yellow, such as apricot-yellow and light brown. This robe is lined with sheepskin to provide warmth during the winter months.