The Dark Formal Robe (Xuanduan)

Within the robes for fasting and purification Qi Fu (齊服): Specialized garments worn during periods of ritual abstinence (Zhaijie) before a major sacrifice or ceremony., there is the Dark Formal Robe Xuanduan (玄端): The most fundamental of ancient Chinese ceremonial robes. The name signifies its 'dark' (xuan) color and its 'upright' or 'square' (duan) cut, which was said to symbolize the moral rectitude of the wearer.. This attire includes the Black Cap Xuanguan (玄冠): A formal black headpiece specifically paired with the Xuanduan robe.; it is utilized during Auspicious Rites Ji Li (吉禮): The primary category of the 'Five Rites' of the Confucian tradition, encompassing sacrifices to the gods of heaven, the spirits of the earth, and the ancestors..

The illustration depicts a figure in the Xuanduan ensemble. He wears the characteristic wide-sleeved dark robe and the distinctive Black Cap. In his hands, he holds a ritual tablet Hu (笏): A narrow tablet made of jade, ivory, or bamboo held by officials during formal ceremonies to denote rank and to provide a surface for writing notes during the proceedings..