Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Clothing, Volume I
Page 15

The Ceremonial Pheasant Robe (Yī yī)

The Ceremonial Pheasant Robe Yī yī (禕衣): The most formal ritual garment worn by the Empress. It is the highest of the "Three Robes" of the Empress, corresponding in rank to the Emperor's sacrificial robes. is deep black in color original: "色玄" (se xuan) — a dark, reddish-black color representing the heavens.. It is crafted by applying patterns to the silk in the likeness of pheasants Dí (翟): The long-tailed pheasant, a symbol of beauty and refined virtue reserved for the highest-ranking women in the imperial court..

original: "刻繒爲翟" (ke zeng wei di). The text describes the process of decorating the silk with pheasant motifs, which were either embroidered or painted onto the fabric to signify the Empress's status.

This is the designated garment for the Empress original: "后" (Hou) to wear when she accompanies the King or Emperor to perform the high rites of sacrifice to the ancestral kings original: "祭先王" (ji xian wang).

The accompanying woodcut illustration depicts the Empress in a majestic, wide-sleeved robe. The "Yī yī" is characterized by its broad silhouette and the specific placement of pheasant medallions. This ensemble would be completed with an elaborate phoenix coronet. The illustration captures the solemnity and grace required for the most important ancestral rites of the state.