Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Clothing

Ceremonial Attire for Titled Ladies of the Court and the Provinces

In our current dynasty original: 國朝 Guócháo; referring to the Ming Dynasty, the formal attire for titled ladies original: 命婦 Mìngfù; women granted noble titles based on their husband's or son's rank of the first rank consists of a crown decorated with nine floral clusters original: 釵 Chāi; specifically "flower hairpins" or clusters, two side-wing hair ornaments original: 博鬢 Bóbìn; wide, wing-like ornaments extending from the sides of the crown, and nine floral medallions original: 鈿 Diàn; inlaid or flower-shaped ornaments.

Their formal garment is the pheasant robe original: 翟衣 Zháiyī; a ceremonial robe featuring embroidered long-tailed pheasants, a symbol of high status, which features nine rows of pheasant motifs. The color follows that of the husband's official dress, using dark blue original: 青 Qīng; a deep blue or teal color associated with formal ritual robes. This is worn with:

• An inner garment original: 中單 Zhōngdān made of plain white gauze with a decorated collar original: 黼領 Fǔlǐng; a collar featuring black and white "axe" patterns, a traditional ritual motif.
• A skirt made of red silk gauze with light blue borders.
• A knee-cover original: 蔽膝 Bìxī; a decorative front panel or "apron" hanging from the waist that matches the color of the skirt, using dark green original: 綟 Lì; a dark green or greenish-purple hue for the collar-edging, and featuring embroidered double-pheasant designs.
• A large fabric girdle original: 大帶 Dàdài matching the color of the robe.
• A leather belt original: 革帶 Gédài decorated with jade.
• Ornamental pendants and sashes original: 佩綬 Pèishòu in dark green.

For the second rank, the crown features eight floral clusters, two side-wings, and eight floral medallions. The pheasant robe has eight rows of pheasants. The color also follows the husband's rank, using dark blue. The leather belt is decorated with rhinoceros horn. All other elements are the same as the first rank.

For the third rank, the crown features seven floral clusters, two side-wings, and seven floral medallions. The pheasant robe has seven rows of pheasants. The color also follows the husband's rank, using dark blue. The leather belt is decorated with gold. All other elements are the same as the second rank.

For the fourth rank, the crown features six floral clusters, two side-wings, and six floral medallions. The pheasant robe has six rows of pheasants. The color also follows the husband's rank, using dark blue. The leather belt is decorated with gold. All other elements are the same as the second rank.

For the fifth rank, the crown features five floral clusters, two side-wings...

Page 39 original: 三十九 Collected Statutes original: 會典 Huìdiǎn [Rituals, Volume 2]