Dragon Robes Glossary

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Ax One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the ax symbolized the power of the emperor to punish.

Bat In Chinese art, the bat is a symbol of happiness and longevity, and the word for happiness, is pronounced the same way as the word for bat. According to legend, bats were able to live for a thousand years; silver in color, legend held that they fed on stalactites and that, if consumed by humans, they would increase one's longevity. One bat symbolized happiness, two bats represented redoubled good fortune and five bats represented the Five Blessings (a long life, riches, health, love of virtue, and a natural death.)

Bee In Chinese art, the bee symbolizes industry.

Buddhism Buddhism was founded in India around 500 B.C. by Gautama Sakyamuni, who taught that the cause of all suffering is desire. When desire is extinguished, the individual may attain nirvana (nothingness) and thus escape the painful cycle of birth, life, and death.

Canopy One of the Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune, the canopy is the symbol of a monarch, and represents spiritual authority and shelter for all living beings.

Cao Gou-Jiu One of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. Cao Gou Jiu is reputed to have been the brother of a 10^th century Sung empress and the son of a military commander. His attribute, the castanets, are thought to be derived from the pass that gave him free access to the palace–a benefit of his rank. Cao Gou Jiu is the patron saint of actors.

Chao-fu The Chinese word means "court garment." This term refers to the most formal robes worn by officials for important rituals and court observances.

Characters To bring good luck and guard against misfortune, Chinese characters were frequently incorporated into ornamental designs as auspicious objects. Shou means "longevity." Wan means "ten thousand." Xi means "joy." Ji means "luck." Shuangxi means "double happiness," a popular wedding symbol of both happiness and longevity. A Swastika symbolizes"ten thousand" and longevity. It was originally a symbol of Buddha's heart, and was a term borrowed from Sanskrit (the ancient language of India).

Chrysanthemum The China Astor, or chrysanthemum indicum, is a symbol of happiness and a life of ease. It is representative of autumn in the symbolism of the four seasons, along with wild plum (winter), peony (spring), and lotus (summer).

Clouds (yun) Clouds symbolize the celestial realm.

Coins One of the Eight Precious Objects, coins are naturally a symbol of prosperity.

Conch shell One of the Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. The conch shell represents wisdom in the voice of Buddha calling people to worship.

Constellation (xing) One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the constellation of three stars is a symbol of the cosmic universe. The universe, as personified by the Emperor, is an unending source of pardon and love.

Coral One of the Eight Precious Objects, coral was supposed to represent a tree that grew at the bottom of the ocean and blossomed only once in a hundred years, another symbol of longevity.

Crane (he) The crane is also a symbol of longevity. According to Chinese legend the crane could live to be more than 600 years old.

Cups One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the pair of bronze sacrificial cups symbolize strength (represented by a tiger) and cleverness (represented by a monkey). Together they are symbols of respect for one's parents.

Daoism A principal philosophy and system of religion in China based upon the teachings of Lao-ze in the sixth century B.C.

Deer In Chinese Art the deer symbolizes riches.

Dragon (long) One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the dragons are symbols of the natural world, adaptability, and transformation. The dragon and the pheasant represent the animal and bird kingdoms and thus the entire natural world. When two dragons are placed together but turned away, the dragons symbolize eternity via the Yin and the Yang.

Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune Buddhist missionaries brought eight symbols to China from India: the canopy, the conch shell, the sacred vase, the royal umbrella, the wheel of the law, the endless knot, the lotus flower, and a pair of fish. The first four of these are royal emblems associated with Buddha, and the other four are symbols of Buddhist religious belief.

Eight Immortals The eight immortals were legendary beings of the Daoist sect who knew the secrets of nature. They were believed to be able to raise the dead, to make themselves invisible, to turn stone into gold, and to bless anyone who bore their image. Symbols representing the characteristic attributes of each immortal were depicted on a wide variety of porcelain, bronze, ivory, and embroidered objects. These attributes include the fan (Zhuang-li Quan), the sword (Lü Dong-bin), the double gourd and crutch (Li Tie-guai), the castanets (Cao Gou-Jiu), the basket of flowers (Lan Cai-He), the fish drum (Zhang Guo-lao), the flute (Han Xiang-zi), and the lotus pod (He Xian-gu).

Fire One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the flame is a symbol of intellectual brilliance.

Fish (yu) One of the Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. A pair of fish is a symbol of tenacity, domestic felicity, and fertility.

Five colors The Chinese universe was ordered in five directions symbolized by the five elements, five colors, animal deities, and the seasons of the year. The five colors used to organize the Chinese universe were yellow, red, black, white, and blue. Yellow (center) is associated with the earth element and reserved for use by the emperor, the empress, and the heir-apparent. Red (south) is associated with the fire element and used during the rituals of marriage and birth. Black (north) is associated with the water element. White (west) is associated with the metal element and is the traditional color of mourning. Blue (east) is associated with the element wood.

Five elements The Chinese universe was ordered in five directions symbolized by the five elements, five colors, animal deities, and the seasons of the year. The five elements are earth (yellow), fire (red), water (black), metal (white), and wood (blue).

Fu One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the fu is a symbol of collaboration and the power of the emperor to judge.

Gourd The gourd is the symbol of Li Tie-guai, one of the Eight Immortals, representing his power to free his soul from his body. Gourds also symbolize longevity and the ability to ward off evil spirits.

Grain One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, grain is a symbol of a country's capacity to feed its people, and thus prosperity and fertility.

Han Chinese The indigenous people of China.

Han Xiang-zi Han Xiang zi is said to have been the nephew of Han Yü, a famous scholar of the 9^th century. His attribute is the flute, and he is the patron saint of musicians. Among his special skills was the ability to make flowers bloom instantaneously.

He Xian-gu One of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. He Xian gu is one of the two female immortals. She was the daughter of a 7^th-century shopkeeper who ate a magic peach and became a fairy. Her attribute is the lotus, and according to legend, He Xian gu’s immortality is due to a consistent diet of powdered mother-of-pearl and moonbeams.

Insignia badges (also called rank badges) The dress code initiated by early Qing emperors was ultimately codified in 1759 by Emperor Ch'ien Lung in a collection of writings called The Illustrated Catalogue of Ritual Paraphernalia of the Qing Dynasty, which outlined what should be worn when and by whom. Court officials were allowed to wear certain emblems and colors according to their rank and function. Civil officials wore badges displaying birds and were accorded higher stature than their military counterparts who wore animal badges. The practice of using badges to signify the rank of the wearer was common in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and continued into the Qing.

Rank	Civil Official	Military Official
first (highest rank)	white crane	unicorn
second	golden pheasant	lion
third	peacock	leopard
fourth	wild goose	tiger
fifth	silver pheasant	black bear
sixth	egret	panther
seventh	mandarin duck	rhinoceros
eighth	quail	rhinoceros
ninth	paradise flycatcher	seahorse

Ji Chinese character meaning luck.

Ji-fu The Chinese word means "auspicious robe." This term refers to the semi-formal court robe worn by Manchu officials for daily activities.

Knot (also called the mystic dragon) Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. The endless knot, "intestines," is a symbol of longevity and eternity.

Lacquer Lacquer items are made from the sap of the lacquer tree (Rhus verniciflura). The sap was used to coat and waterproof objects. Lacquer is also strongly resistant to heat and acids. The Chinese were the first to produce lacquer objects.

Lan Cai-he One of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. Lan Cai he is one of the two female immortals. Her attribute is a basket of flowers, which she carries to remind viewers of the transience of life. Lan Cai he is said to have wandered the streets as a beggar while singing a song about the brevity of mortal life.

Lingzhi Fungus Also called the plant of long life or the plant of immortality; a symbol of longevity.

Li Tie-guai One of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. Because of his great skill at magic, Li Tie guai was able to free his soul from his body and to aid others in the celestial realm. His attributes are a beggar’s crutch and gourd because once, while his spirit was gone from his body, a disciple decided that Li Tie guai was dead and burned his body. When Li Tie guai’s soul returned from its travels, he was forced to enter the body of a beggar.

Lotus flower One of the Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. The lotus flower is a symbol of purity, which rises unsullied through muddy water.

Lozenge One of the Eight Precious Objects, a symbol of victory. The lozenge has been related to various objects including a headdress, and, when two of them are placed together, represent a musical instrument.

Lü Dong-bin One of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. Lü Dong-bin was an 8^th-century scholar who learned the secrets of Daoism from Zhuang lin Quan. His attribute, the sword, allowed him to travel the earth slaying dragons and fighting evil.

Manchu An ethnic group of agriculturists descended from nomadic tribesmen who took control of China in 1644.

Moon One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty (imperial authority), the moon is a symbol of heaven. The moon is representative of the passive principle (Yin) to the sun's active principle (Yang). A light blue or green disc enclosing the legendary hare pounding the elixir of immortality represents the moon.

Mountains One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, mountains are symbols of stability and the earth.

Peach The chief ingredient of the elixir of immortality.

Peacock The peacock is a symbol of beauty and dignity. An old Chinese legend tells of the daughter of a mighty military commander who painted a peacock on an ornament screen and promised to marry the first man who could hit the peacock twice with arrows while running. A Tang emperor put out the two eyes of the peacock on two consecutive tries and won a bride. "Selection by hitting the bird screen" thus entered the Chinese language as a euphemism for finding a husband.

Pearl (or jewel) One of the Precious Objects, the pearl is a symbol of good fortune and genius. Because of its beautiful rounded shape, the word pearl is also used to describe feminine beauty. On dragon robes, the dragons are usually depicted reaching for pearls.

Peony The peony is a symbol of love and affection and is representative of good luck and of spring in the cycle of the four seasons.

Pheasant One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the pheasant is representative of the natural world and symbolizes literary refinement. The pheasant and the dragon represent the bird and the animal kingdoms and thus the entire natural world.

Plum The wild plum is the symbol for winter in the four seasons since this is when its branches flower. It is thus representative of longevity.

Pouches (also called pockets) Court robes had no pockets in them so courtiers took to carrying small pouches, attached to either belts or toggles, to carry the various accessories that were deemed necessary, including thumb rings, ear wax cleaners, fans, chopsticks, etc.

Precious objects The precious objects are symbols of wealth and good fortune that are usually found in groups of eight from the Ming dynasty onward. They were commonly used as decorative motifs. Included in the groups of precious objects displayed on dragon robes are the following: lozenges, coins, a pearl or jewel, pair of scrolls, a stone chime, a pair of rhinoceros horns, coral, an ingot, the lingzhi fungus, the Ruyi scepter, and the cloud.

Qing dynasty The last of the Chinese dynasties beginning with the taking of Beijing by Manchu warriors in 1644, and lasting until the revolution of 1911.

Rhinoceros horn A pair of rhinoceros horns are one of the Eight Precious Objects and symbolize happiness. Powdered rhinoceros horns were used for medicinal purposes and a rhinoceros horn cup was believed to have magical powers to identify poison.

Ruyi scepter A ceremonial sword or scepter symbolizing a number of different things but when decorating clothing it is most closely linked to prosperity. The shape is connected with the scepter of authority.

Scrolls (book) A pair of scrolls or books tied together with a fillet is one of the Eight Precious Objects and a symbol of good fortune. They symbolize learning.

Shou A Chinese character that represents longevity.

Shuangxi Chinese character which means "double happiness," and a popular wedding symbol of both happiness and longevity.

Stone chime One of the Eight Precious Objects, the stone chime is a percussion instrument made of jade and is a symbol of happiness. The word representing the stone chime, qing, is the same as the sound it makes and synonymous with the word felicity.

Sun One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the sun is a symbol of enlightenment and is represented by the legendary three-legged crow on a red disc.

Swastika Chinese character which means ten thousand and longevity. It was originally a symbol of Buddha's heart, and was a term borrowed from Sanskrit (the ancient language of India).

Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty Twelve Chinese symbols representing imperial authority, that appeared on the sacrificial robes of the emperor since the Western Zhou Dynasty (1050-771 B.C.). The twelve symbols include the sun, moon, constellation of three stars, dragons, pheasant, mountains, a pair of bronze sacrificial cups, waterweed, grain, flame, ax, and fu.

Umbrella One of the Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. The royal umbrella symbolizes charity and the incorruptible official.

Vase One of the Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. The sacred vase holds the water of life. The word for vase (ping) is pronounced the same as the word for peace.

Wan Chinese character which represents ten thousand.

Waterweed One of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty, the waterweed is a symbol of purity.

Wheel of the law-Karma. One of the Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune. The wheel of the law, karma, represents the ever-turning wheel of transmigration of the soul.

Xi Chinese character which means joy.

Yin One of the two fundamental forces, Yin represents the female or passive force.

Yang One of the two fundamental forces, Yang represents the male or active force.

Zhang Guo-lao One of the Eight Immortals of Daoism, Zhang Guo-lao is reputed to have been a recluse of the 7^th or 8^th century. His attribute is a fish drum made of a bamboo tube with two rods with which to strike it. He traveled with a white mule that could go incredible distances and then be folded up and placed in a wallet. Zhang Guo-lao had only to add water to the mule to reconstitute it for further use.

Zhuang-li Quan Chief of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. Zhuang-li Quan was reputed to have lived during the Zhou dynasty (1050-221 B.C.) Among his many powers were transmutation and the knowledge of the elixir of life. His attribute is a fan.

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