Dragon Robes home page The Chinese Concept of the Universe Previous | Next

The ancient Chinese conceived the world in terms of five elements–earth, wood, fire, metal, and water–created by the interaction of two fundamental forces: Yin (passive) and Yang (active).

All natural phenomena were caused by the dynamic interaction of the five elements,which corresponded with the five directions of the terrestrial realm (east, south, west, north, and center). The five colors (blue, red, white, black, and yellow), the animal deities (dragon, phoenix, tiger, tortoise, and snake), and the seasons of the year (fall, spring, summer, and winter) were also used to symbolize the five directions. The placement of the symbols on a dragon robe, based on the diagram of the Chinese cosmos, was believed to enhance the wearer’s mystical relationship to the universe.

Earth was the center of the universe, represented by the Yellow Emperor, and was to be ruled by the emperor. The color yellow was reserved for the emperor and the opening within the collar of the dragon robe was understood to represent the center of the world. Once the dragon robe was donned the emperor was firmly in charge on earth.

The use of rich symbols and colors was especially important for rulers who hoped to achieve harmony of the natural and human worlds through performing the correct rituals and ceremonies. The robes were often conceived as abstract representations of the universe, with the emperor (his head, to be exact) at the center, reflecting the view that imperial authority was an integral part of the universal order.

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