The Inner Robe

original: "中單" (Zhōngdān). The Inner Robe is a white silk garment worn directly beneath the primary ritual robes. It features a cross-collar and wide sleeves, designed to frame the neck and cuffs of the outer layers with a crisp white border. In the context of ritual, this white layer represents the ruler’s inner purity and moral rectitude, serving as the foundational layer upon which the more ornate symbols of power are placed.

The Knee Cover

original: "蔽膝" (Bìxī). Literally translated as "knee-hider," this is a ceremonial apron suspended from the waistband of the Crimson Skirt. Originally derived from ancient leather coverings used for practical protection, it evolved into a purely symbolic accessory for the highest levels of formal dress. The illustration shows the apron adorned with a soaring dragon and a stylized "Five-Colored Mountain" landscape at the base, representing the Emperor’s stability and his dominion over the terrestrial realm.

Inner Robe original: "中單" (Zhōngdān). The white, foundational layer of imperial ritual dress.
Knee Cover original: "蔽膝" (Bìxī). A highly decorated ceremonial apron or front panel.
Han Clothing original: "漢服" (Hànfú). The historical system of dress for the Han Chinese people.
Ritual Attire original: "禮服" (Lǐfú). General term for formal dress used in state ceremonies.
Sacrificial Robes original: "祭服" (Jìfú). The most formal tier of ritual clothing, used specifically for making offerings to Heaven, Earth, and ancestors.