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Oriental Ceremonial Robe
Oriental Taoist ceremonial robe and sash.
The robe and sash dates back to the Imperial Court during the Ming Dynasty period in China.
The ceremonial robe was only worn by the High Priest of Taoism during sacrifice services in the Imperial Court. This ceremonial robe wasn't even allowed to be viewed by the common person of that day because of the powerful and sacred symbols that were embroidered into it.
Taoism was China's national religion during the period the robe was dated.
The robe and sash is hand woven and hand sown with black silk.
On the back of the robe there are two Chinese dragons embroidered by the Suzhou embroidery with real gold and real silver wrapped over black silk thread. Also the front of the robe and sash are embroidered by Suzhou embroidery with real gold and real silver wrapped over black silk thread.
One dragon is coming down from the clouds, and the other dragon is coming up from a sea of waves.
The clouds represented the heaven, and the waves represented the earth.
The front of the robe has clouds and waves.
The sash has clouds.
Green, and white thread is used in the dragon's eye.
Red thread is used in the head of the two dragon's.
The robe and sash are of excellent quality black silk.
The robe has all the powerful colors of black, red, white, and green.
However, the real gold represents yellow, and the real silver represents white.
These are powerful colors, and are very important in the religious ceremonies of Taoism.
It has been estimated there could possibly be over two ounces of gold, and the purity of the gold appears to be 995 fine.
Because of wars during that period there became a mixture of Japanese and Chinese style. The robe and sash were taken out of the Manchurian District.
The Emperor in the Ming Dynasty had a Chinese style sleeve in his robe not Japanese style.
However the sleeves in my robe are Japanese style. There are two armholes in one sleeve of the robe.
The dragon had feet on the robe which the Emperor in the Ming Dynasty wore.
However the dragons on the ceremonial religious Taoist robe does not have feet.
The dragons that are embroidered into the robe are distinctly Chinese Dragons. They are not Japanese dragons. The ceremonial religious Taoist robe was completely separate in style and design from what the Emperor wore.
The robe is 25 inches or 67.5 cm wide from seam to seam in the back,
and 50 1/2 inches or 128.3 cm long.
The sash is 64 1/2 inches or 161.25 cm long, and 6 inches or 15.6 cm wide.
The Shanghai Museum has verified that the embroidery is Suzhou embroidery in the Ming Dynasty.
I have been told the robe and sash which I have are the only one in the world that is in existence today.
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