Regalia of the Crown Prince

original: "皇太子服" (Huángtàizǐ fú). This refers to the specific set of ritual and formal garments designated for the heir apparent to the imperial throne.

The Nine-Tasseled Crown

original: "九旒冕" (Jiǔliú Miǎn). The "mian" is the most prestigious form of ceremonial headgear in the Chinese tradition, characterized by a flat rectangular board (yan) placed atop a cap. Strings of jade beads, called "liu" (tassels), hang from the front and back. The number of tassels indicates rank: the Emperor wore twelve, while the Crown Prince was entitled to nine.

Crown Prince (皇太子, Huángtàizǐ): The designated heir to the throne, whose status is reflected in regalia that is second only to the Emperor.

Nine-Tasseled Crown (九旒冕, Jiǔliú Miǎn): A ritual crown used for the most solemn ceremonies, such as ancestral sacrifices or the Crown Prince's investiture.

Ceremonial Crown (冕, Miǎn): A general term for the formal "flat-top" crowns of the ancient Chinese ritual system.

The illustration depicts the technical assembly of the crown. The rectangular top board is slightly tilted forward—longer at the back than the front—to symbolize the wearer's humility and focus on the people. The nine tassels hanging from the front and back consist of beads in five colors (red, white, blue, yellow, and black) strung on silk cords. Gold hairpins secure the cap to the hair, and heavy silk ribbons (zuo) tie beneath the chin.