Page 70 - CHRISTIE'S Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 09/14 - 15 / 17
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The Twelve Ancient Symbols of Imperial Authority frst appeared on the Manchu emperor’s clothing after 1759. These
symbols were superimposed on the general decorative schema of Qing court garments, losing the visual prominence they
had enjoyed during the Ming dynasty. Nonetheless, they emphatically demonstrated the Qing intention of embracing the
traditional role as rulers of the Chinese empire. Under the Qing, the frst four symbols—sun, moon, stars, and mountain—
were placed at the shoulders, chest and mid-back. The symbol of distinction (fu), hatchet, paired dragons, and the golden
pheasant appeared at waist level. Temple-cups, aquatic grass, grains of millet, and fames were placed at knee level on the
skirts of the coat.
The present robe would likely have been made for Cixi (1835-1908), the Dowager Empress of the Qing dynasty. The empress
was permitted to wear the yellow twelve-symbol dragon robe at celebrations, sacrifcial rites, and important ceremonies,
and it served as a symbol of her power.
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