The Collected Illustrations of the Three Powers

Clothing, Volume Three

Page Eleven

Scholar’s Robe

original: 襴衫 Lanshan; a quintessential wide-sleeved gown worn by scholars and students of the imperial academy

Illustration of a Scholar's Robe

This woodcut illustrates a Lanshan, a traditional Chinese scholar's robe. It is characterized by its wide, flowing sleeves and distinct dark-colored borders at the collar, cuffs, and hem. Historically, this garment served as a marker of status, reserved for those within the scholarly and official class during the Ming and Qing dynasties.


Mud-skates original: 橇 qiao; shoes or sled-like devices used for traversing marshy or muddy terrain	Formal Shoes original: 履 lü	Daoist Robe original: 道衣 daoyi	Neck Guard and Body Armor original: 頓項身甲 dunxiang shenjia	Horse Armor original: 馬甲 majia
Wooden Clogs original: 屐 ji; typically raised on "teeth" to keep the wearer above mud and water	Monk's Robe original: 僧衣 sengyi	Helmet and Shoulder Guards original: 頭鍪掩膊 toumou yanbo	Illustration of Armor for Soldiers from Yue original: 粵兵盔甲圖; Yue refers to the southern coastal regions of Guangdong and Guangxi

This section provides a visual inventory of specialized functional clothing and equipment:

1. Footwear: The inclusion of Mud-skates original: Qiao and Clogs original: Ji alongside formal Shoes original: Lü demonstrates the encyclopedia's interest in practical, environment-specific gear. These items reflect how Ming-era people adapted their dress for different terrains.

2. Religious Attire: The Daoist Robe original: Daoyi and Monk's Robe original: Sengyi represent the standard vestments for China’s two primary institutional religions, Daoism and Buddhism. These garments often operated outside the strict Confucian sumptuary laws that governed secular officials.

3. Military Hardware: The armor described is typical of the Ming Dynasty's defensive technology. The table distinguishes between general protective gear (like helmets and neck guards) and regional variations, specifically highlighting armor used by troops in the Yue (Southern) provinces.