Dragon Pattern Robes (龙袍) were used as the robes the Chinese emperors wore in the ancient times of China. Because dragon patterns are embroidered on them, they are called Dragon Pattern Robes or Dragon Robes. Dragons are magical, powerful, solemn and just creatures in Chinese culture, and it was a tradition that the rulers of the past dynasties wore the Dragon Pattern Robes. This tradition can date back to the Zhou Dynasty (11th Century BC – 771 BC).

During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, emperors already wore robes graced with dragon patterns, but it was not until the Qing that they were named “Dragon Robes” and became part of the official attire system. A dragon robe is either yellow or apricot-yellow in color, and embroidered with nine yellow dragons and five-hued auspicious cloud patterns.

The clouds are interlaced with twelve other patterns—the sun, the moon and stars (representing the light of the throne), mountains (synonymous to stability to changes) auspicious bird (denoting elegance and beauty) water reeds (which represent purity and cleanness), and fire (meaning light).

On a dragon pattern robe is a dragon embroidered on the front and the back, before or behind the knees, on the shoulders, and on the lining of the chest, so that if you view this robe from the front or behind, you will easily see five dragons at a time. In Chinese tradition, when the five and nine dragons are combined, they showcase dignity of the emperors on the throne.