In the long history of feudal rule in ancient China, a special costume has always symbolized imperial power and dignity - that is, the yellow dragon robe. Its exquisite patterns and brilliant colors show the supremacy of its owner.
However, you may wonder how to clean this indispensable royal garment when it is dirty. It's hard to imagine that these noble monarchs would wash their clothes themselves.
In fact, in the ancient court, the emperor's daily life was served by a group of special people. In order to maintain this important symbol, the cleaning officers put a lot of effort into ensuring that it shines all year round.
Unveiling the veil of history and tracing the origin of the dragon robe, we can better appreciate its unique cultural connotation. So, what are the little-known stories about the cleaning and maintenance of this mysterious costume?
In ancient China, yellow symbolized imperial power and was the exclusive color of the emperor. Since the Qin Dynasty, the monarchs of each dynasty have their own exclusive yellow dragon robes. The Yellow Dragon Robe, which is now regarded as an achievement, dates back 2,000 years.
The Qin Dynasty laid the foundation of the dragon robe culture. In 221 BC, Ying Zheng unified the six kingdoms and established the Qin Dynasty, becoming the first emperor in Chinese history. According to the theory of the five elements of yin and yang, he believed that the foundation of the Qin Dynasty was in water, so he revered black. The original dragon robe was also black because of this, which laid the foundation for the dragon robe culture in later generations.
The Han Dynasty broke through the dragon robe tradition.
After Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Western Han Dynasty, ascended the throne, he inherited the traditions of the Qin Dynasty and wore a black dragon robe. However, by the time of Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Heng, he subverted this tradition and changed the color of the dragon robe to yellow. However, this change lasted only a year, and then the color was changed back to red. The reason is that the Han Dynasty pursued the theory of the five elements, and the color corresponding to fire was red. This marked the first major change in the color of the dragon robe.
During the Tang Dynasty, the status of the yellow dragon robe was determined. In 618 AD, after Li Yuan established the Tang Dynasty, he stipulated that ordinary people could not wear yellow clothes, and yellow was exclusively used by the royal family. Since then, the yellow dragon robe has truly become a symbol of the emperor.
The Tang Dynasty pursued the idea of the Five Elements of Middle Earth as the center, so yellow was regarded as the supreme color. For the next 1,000 years, all dynasties continued the tradition of the yellow dragon robe. It can be said that the dragon robe bears the historical imprint of China's feudal dynasties, and its color changes reflect the cultural characteristics of different historical periods.
The uniqueness of the dragon robe lies not only in its color and pattern, but also in its exquisite craftsmanship. Let's explore how this amazing costume was born.
Real dragon robes are woven from special looms of ancient times. This giant wooden loom, which is 4 meters high, requires the cooperation of two skilled craftsmen. They need to work together and master a complex set of formulas to ensure the quality of the weaving.
The work was very difficult, and at the end of the day, only about 10 centimeters of fabric could be woven. It takes years or even ten or eight years to complete a dragon robe. It can be seen that the process of making dragon robes has reached a level of ingenuity.
Precious raw materials, coupled with the application of precious materials such as silk and satin, make a dragon robe worth more than hundreds of thousands of yuan. In ancient times, it was not easy to get the opportunity to weave dragon robes from the emperor. Craftsmen had to go through layers of selection and receive subtle ideological education to ensure their loyalty to the imperial power before they were eligible to serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If something goes wrong, the craftsman could be charged with treason and face the punishment of execution.
The embroidery on the dragon robe is also exquisite, the most typical is the nine golden dragons, symbolizing the supremacy of imperial power. Every detail of these dragons has been carefully designed and must be made by royal embroiderers. Not only did they possess great skill, but they also had to be politically sound in order to be eligible for the royal workshops.
Under the skillful hands of these embroiderers, each paw print of the dragon comes to life, and every scale shines with dazzling brilliance. It can be seen that the completion of a dragon robe not only requires the best talents at that time, but also requires a lot of material support, representing the highest level of craftsmen of the dynasty at that time. These strict intrinsic quality standards set the stage for the complex maintenance work that followed.
Even though the process of making a robe is already complex, its cleaning and maintenance are equally difficult. In order to maintain this costume, which symbolizes imperial power, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has created a special position of cleaning officer. The main jobs of a cleaning officer include:
The first task of the cleaning officer was to maintain the dragon robe that the emperor often wore and to ensure that it was neat, properly stored and maintained. Before the emperor was ready to put on a certain dragon robe, they needed to be carefully inspected, cleaned, and incensed. Once the emperor took off his robes, the cleaning officers were required to carefully inspect and repair any stains or damages they found. In addition, they regularly aromatize their clothes to ensure their quality and prevent odors.
The process of cleaning the robe is very tedious. Since the material of the robe is not suitable for washing, the cleaning officers can only carefully use alcohol to clean up some stains, because the slightest mistake may destroy a large area of embroidery. Moreover, there are many types of stains on clothing, which require different treatment methods depending on the situation. For oil, mildew, blood, etc., the cleaners have their own ancestral secret recipes, and it can be said that in a way, their skills are no less than those of the royal embroiderers.
After using the robe for a period of time, odors may accumulate. At this time, the cleaning officers would use the sandalwood incense cabinet, hang the clothes in it, and smoke the ancient spices for several days to remove odors and ensure that the emperor was comfortable.
It can be seen that although the work of the cleaning officer is inconspicuous, it is also related to the image and dignity of the imperial power. It is their diligence and skill that have enabled the dragon robe to maintain its glory for a long time.
As a symbol of the emperor, the life of the dragon robe is naturally extraordinary. When a robe is too old to be maintained, the emperor will also announce its retirement. However, its ultimate destination is often a mystery that only a few people know.
As for the criteria for decommissioning, yes.
In ancient times, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stipulated that each dragon robe should last for about 5 years and should be regularly maintained. Once the cleaning officer believes that the dragon robe is no longer suitable to show the majesty of the emperor, he will report to the emperor and ask for retirement. The way to deal with it after retirement is quite mysterious, and after the emperor's approval, the dragon robe will be secretly handled by the senior ** of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The most common way to dispose of it was to burn it on a royal altar on a selected auspicious day, while the remnants were buried deep underground to prevent it from being spread among the people. This mysterious way of retiring is both to protect the symbol of imperial power and to contain a kind of transcendence. The cycle of life and death of the dragon robe is just like the history of the rise and fall of a dynasty, which is thought-provoking.
As a symbol of feudal rule, the dragon robe plays an important role in the changes of Chinese history. Its unique color, structure and cultural connotation have become the common memory of the nation. In the feudal dynastic system, the dragon robe represented the supremacy of imperial power. Its yellow, pattern, and style convey the authority of the monarch to the subjects, constructing a tight hierarchy that maintains the legitimacy of the rule.
The craftsmanship of the dragon robe is the crystallization of the wisdom of craftsmen, bringing together the top talents of the time. It not only represents the highest level of scientific and technological and aesthetic achievements of the times, but also embodies the true feelings and selfless dedication of the craftsmen. Through this garment, it inherits the memory of the nation and witnesses the changes of history.
Through the changes of history, the dragon robe carries the unique cultural essence of the Chinese nation. Its mysterious and solemn evolution is like a picture of the rise and fall of dynasties. When we think deeply about this history, we can better understand our own roots.
The story of the dragon robe is intoxicating and deserves to be savored carefully. Its unique colors symbolize supreme power, the intricacies of the production reflect ingenuity, and the mysterious retirement is a metaphor for the continuous cycle of history. In this thousand-year-old cultural river, the dragon robe has witnessed countless stories and precipitated rich emotions.
When we touch that resplendent garment, it is as if we are touching the pulse of history. Behind this is the hard work and passion of several generations. Perhaps it is precisely because of this that it can become a part of the memory of the Chinese nation. Let us feel the deep and warm emotions at the intersection of history and reality.
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