Friendly yet dangerous, benign yet powerful, the Chinese
dragon has long been worshipped as a dynamic symbol of vitality in the Far East. Rising into the heavens, the dragon would call forth the rains that kept life
flowing within an ancient civilization dependent on agriculture. The dragon was
believed to make an appearance in the sky whenever a new emperor was born, and
in this way the dragon became a symbol of imperial Chinese leadership and
authority.
Dragons on robes began as a purely informal fashion during
the Ming dynasty, quickly became the highest form of official dress. Dragon
robes were adopted by the rulers during the Qing dynasty and became part of the
wardrobe of the imperial court. Their use declined with the fall of the Qing
dynasty in 1911, although members of the Imperial Family continued to wear them
on formal occasions until departing the Forbidden City in 1924.
Today, most Chinese Dragon Robes are found in the West,
having been removed from China during times of distress, such as the sacking of
the Summer Palace in1860 and the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911, when
westerners in Beijing were able to get a hold of robes from nobles anxious for
quick cash. Unlike today's apparel many dragon robes were never worn, and some
never made it through the inspection process implemented by the imperial
household.
For the aspiring collector, dragon robes can be obtained
from antique dealers or auction houses in the United States and Europe. Before buying a robe, any collector should consider how best to display the robe.
Robes sent to Tibet by rulers of the Ming dynasty five hundred years ago came
to light when they were revealed in 1980. The display was critical to
establishing the fact that silk robes can survive centuries proper care.
Common methods for displaying a fine silk robe include
within a Plexiglas box with holes to allow for proper ventilation. Another way
to do it is to hang the robe from a padded pole, but a treasured robe should
never be exposed to strong sunlight which can cause fading. And a robe should
never be displayed beneath a spotlight. Most classic examples of the fine art
of Dragon Robes have been preserved in museums. The Palace Museum in Beijing has perhaps the finest collection in the world, but they are seldom on display
for the public.
Source: Valery M. Garrett's Chinese Dragon Robes
About the Author
Classic Fashion: Chinese
Dragon Robes is focus on Chinese fashion founded by Rich Christiansen for SKMENSWEAR | big and tall
suits.
