Page 64 - Chiense TExtiles, MET MUSEUM Pub 1934

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
intermediary between all the millions of the people of
the Middle Kingdom and the powers of Heaven. The
broad design of his robes represents the Universe: in
the main field of the robe a pattern of clouds symbolizes
Heaven; below the clouds is the sea, a pattern of in-
clined ribbons topped with waves and spray; and in the
center of the waves a group of mountains represents the
Earth. Nine large five-clawed dragons ramp through
the clouds- nine, for are there not Nine Sections in the
Science of Mathematics devised by Li Shou for the Em-
peror Huang Ti; was not the Empire divided into nine
provinces by Yu; were there not nine divisions to the
"great plan" of the Book of History; are not the great
books themselves composed of the Four Books and the
Five Classics; are there not Nine Celestial Orbits, Nine
Spheres of Heaven; are there not Nine Tenures, Nine
·Musical Airs; are there not Nine Palaces of Color, Nine
Officials employed by the Emperor Shun, Nine Schools
of Philosophy, Nine Degrees of Official Rank, Nine
Paths to the Moon's Orbit, Nine Degrees of Relation-
ship, Nine Lights of Heaven?
More than this, on sacrificial robes of. the emperor
were the Twelve Symbols (Shih erh chang) brought
down from the Books of Rites.
I (Yii) wish to see the emblematic figures of the ancients-the
sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the dragon and the flam-
ing fowl which are depicted on the upper garment; the temple
cups, the aquatic grass, the flames, the grains of rice, the hatchet
and the symbol of distinction which are embroidered on the

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