Subject: beile prince as military commander

Culture: Jurchen / Manchu

Setting: early Qing empire, Manchuria/China 17th-early 18thc

Object: costume = 官帽 guānmào hat, 補服 bǔfú surcoat, 朝褂 cháopáo court robe / 龍袍 lóngpáo dragon robe

Fair Park > Chinese Lantern Festival *

* 瀋陽故宮

* Chester Beatty Library > Arts of the Book: East Asia

"Dragon robe Brown silk embroidered in gold and silver 1750-1800 Qing dynasty (1644-1911) ...

The imperial family and high-ranking court officials wore dragon robes for semi-formal occasions.

"Robes in brown were worn by imperial princes or other nobles. The eight dragons arranged on the front,

back and shoulders reflect Confucian ideas of centrality and power.

The waves and prism-shaped rock at the lower part of the garment represent the universal oceans."

* Crow Collection of Asian Art

"Imperial Robe China Qing dynasty (1644-1911), ca. 19th century Silk ...

This robe, with narrow sleeves and hoof-shaped cuffs, differs from traditional Han-Chinese robes.

It originated with the Manchus who established the Qing dynasty, the last imperial reign in China.

The lower section shows stripes and wave patterns, three peaks, and clouds with cranes, which represent water,

earth and heaven respectively. The bright yellow five-clawed dragon motifs were worn only by members of the

imperial faimly to symbolize their political power and social status. This semi-formal costume was most likely

worn by an emperor or a prince at the Qing court or in the service of the Manchu government."