This library is built in the open.
If you spot an error, have a suggestion, or just want to say hello — we’d love to hear from you.

Collected Illustrations of the Three Talents: Volume on Clothing
Page 2
original: "Gun Mian" (衮冕). This ensemble represents the pinnacle of Chinese ritual dress, combining a flat-topped crown with a robe embroidered with sacred symbols.
When offering sacrifices to the Former Kings original: "Xianwang" (先王). Refers to the deceased royal ancestors, honoring the lineage and the foundation of the state., the attire consists of:
The Ceremonial Robe Gun yi (衮衣): the upper garment of the ritual set. featuring five decorative symbols Zhang (章): these are the "Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority," though here only five are applied to the upper robe, likely including motifs like the dragon, mountains, and fire. and the Lower Skirt Chang (裳): the wrap-around lower garment. featuring four decorative symbols.
The ceremonial crown features a total of twenty-four hanging tassels—twelve in the front and twelve in the back—with each tassel consisting of twelve jade beads. original: "Liu" (旒). These tassels were designed to sway as the wearer moved, reminding the Emperor to maintain a steady, dignified gait and to "not see" or "not hear" trivial matters, focusing instead on the solemnity of the rite.