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卷六十六 志第四十二 輿服二

Volume 66 Treatises 42: Carriages and Clothing 2

Chapter 66 of 明史 · History of Ming
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Chapter 66
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1
Imperial sacrificial robes and crowns; crowns and dress for empresses and consorts; crowns and dress for the crown prince, princes, and those of lower rank
2
On the emperor's sacrificial dress: In Hongwu 1 (1368), Academician Tao An petitioned to institute the five ceremonial caps. The Taizu said, "This ceremony is overly elaborate. For sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and the ancestral temples, wear the full ceremonial crown and robe. For rites at the altars of soil and grain and comparable ceremonies, wear the Communication-with-Heaven Cap and a deep-red gauze robe. The remainder are not to be used." In the third year the rule was fixed: New Year's Day, the winter solstice, and the emperor's birthday all required the full ceremonial crown and robe, and sacrifices to the altars of soil and grain, the God of Agriculture, and formal investiture audiences followed the same rule. In the sixteenth year the system for the ceremonial crown and robe was established. The crown was round in front and square behind, with a dark outer surface and deep-red lining. There were twelve pendants before and behind; the pendants were in five colors, with twelve jade pieces, five beads, and twelve colored silk tassels spaced one inch apart. Red silk cords formed the chin strap, yellow silk plugs filled the ears, and a jade hairpin secured the crown. The sacrificial robe had a dark upper garment and yellow skirt with twelve emblems: sun, moon, stars, mountain, dragon, and flowering creature were woven on the robe; ritual vessels, waterweed, fire, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles were embroidered on the skirt. The great belt was white gauze with a red lining. The knee cover matched the skirt in color and was embroidered with dragon, fire, and mountain motifs. There was a leather belt set with jade and jade pendants. The great ceremonial sash used six colors—red, yellow, black, white, pale crimson, and green—with three smaller sashes in matching colors. Three jade rings were spaced along them. The inner robe was white gauze with an opposed-triangle collar and green trim on the cuffs. Yellow stockings and yellow court shoes were ornamented with gold. In the twenty-sixth year the twelve-emblem ceremonial crown and robe were revised again. The crown board measured one foot two inches in width and two feet four in length. A covering was placed above the cap, dark on the outside and vermilion within; everything else followed the earlier regulations. The jade tablet was one foot two inches long. The sacrificial robe had a dark upper garment and deep-red skirt with twelve emblems, as in the earlier regulations. The inner robe was made of plain gauze. The knee cover was red gauze, one foot wide at the top, two at the bottom, and three feet long, woven with the fire, dragon, and mountain emblems. The leather belt bore jade pendants and was three feet three inches long. The great belt was plain on the outside and vermilion within, with edging on both sides; vermilion brocade above and green brocade below. The great ceremonial sash used six colors yellow, white, red, black, pale crimson, and green.)〉 woven to completion, of pure dark thread in five hundred tassels. that is, single-spun threads are combined into one strand, four strands form a tuft, and five tufts form one tassel.)〉 There were three smaller sashes in the same colors as the great sash. Three jade rings were woven in at intervals. Stockings were vermilion and court shoes red. In Yongle 3 (1405) the regulations were set: the ceremonial crown was black gauze; the upper covering was called the tassel-band, with a paulownia core wrapped in fine silk, dark outside and vermilion within, round in front and square behind. A jade crossbar held the crown in place, a jade hairpin threaded the fastening cord, and the cord and the crown's forepart the portion before the feet and below the body is called the forepart, and the tassel-band beneath the crown is likewise called the forepart.)〉 and every point where the chin strap was fastened was ornamented with gold. From the tassel-band yellow silk ear-plugs hung down on either side, made of yellow jade.)〉 secured with a dark cord and supported by a white-jade ear-plug on a vermilion strap. Everything else followed the earlier regulations. The jade tablet was one foot two inches long, its upper end tapered and carved with four mountains to represent the mountains of the four quarters—essentially the Zhou quarter-tablet, unlike the great tablet, which was left uncarved. Yellow brocade bound its lower end, and a separate pouch sheathed it, ornamented with golden dragons. The sacrificial robe bore twelve emblems. The dark upper garment bore eight emblems: sun, moon, and dragon on the shoulders; stars and mountain on the back; fire, flowering creature, and ritual vessels on the sleeves, three on each sleeve.)〉 all woven in their proper colors on the collar, cuffs, edging, and hem. (The cuff is the end of the sleeve; the edging is the border of the garment.)〉 The deep-red skirt bore four emblems—waterweed, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles, two of each—woven in three panels before and four behind, not joined front to back but sharing the waist, with a pleated fold and edging in the proper colors along the sides and hem. A border along the skirt's sides was called side-edging; a border below the skirt was called hem-edging—the term border here means edging. The inner robe was made of plain gauze. It had a green collar, cuffs, edging, and hem, with thirteen opposed-triangle motifs woven on the collar. The knee cover matched the skirt in color and bore four emblems—waterweed, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles, two of each. It had edging in the proper colors and cords worked into the seams. There were two jade hooks. There were two jade pendants, each comprising one top bar, one secondary piece, two square plaques, one impact tooth, and two arc pieces; from the secondary piece hung one jade blossom and two jade drops; They were carved with cloud-and-dragon motifs and traced in gold. Below the top bar five cords were fastened, strung with jade beads. When the wearer walked, the impact tooth, the two drops, and the arc pieces struck one another and chimed. There were two gold hooks. There were two small sashes in six colors yellow, white, red, black, pale crimson, and green.)〉 of deep-red thread. The great ceremonial sash used six colors yellow, white, red, black, pale crimson, and green.)〉 of deep-red thread, with three smaller sashes in the same colors as the great sash. Three jade rings were spaced along them, with dragon motifs, all woven to completion. Stockings and court shoes were red; the shoes had black knotted trim, with yellow ornament on the toe.
3
In Jiajing 8 (1529) the emperor instructed Grand Secretary Zhang Cong, "The ceremonial crown and robe include a leather belt—why is it no longer used?" Cong replied, "According to Chen Xiangdao's Book of Rites, in antiquity the leather belt and the great belt were both called the sash-girdle. The leather belt carried pennants, pendants, and knee covers; only then was the great belt added, with the tablet tucked between the two belts. The leather belt fastened knee covers in front, the ceremonial sash behind, and pendants to either side; from antiquity it was always worn with the ceremonial crown and cap. Today, because the leather belt is omitted, the front and rear pendants and sash have nothing to which they can be fastened and are merely attached at the skirt's waist, which departs from the ancient regulations." The emperor said, "The ceremonial robes are worn to sacrifice to Heaven and Earth and to offer to the ancestors; to omit the leather belt is not in keeping with the intent of pure and splendid full dress. Moreover, the Collected Statutes record that the knee cover was gauze woven with the fire, mountain, and dragon emblems, and that the great belt's edging was brocade—all unlike what is worn today. You should also investigate in detail how the leather belt fastened the knee cover, pendants, and sash, draw illustrations, and submit them." He also said, "The upper garment and skirt are distinct upper and lower garments, yet today the robe constantly covers the skirt. The skirt should be shaped like a curtain, yet today it is made in two panels. My thought is that the robe should end only at the skirt's waist, leaving the skirt's six emblems visible—what do you think?" Shortly afterward he again expressed to Cong his concern about altering the ancestral regulations. Cong replied, "Your subject has examined the ritual regulations: the robe does not cover the skirt, which fully accords with Your Majesty's intent. The robe bears six emblems and the skirt six, each with its own significance; the robe by its nature cannot cover the skirt. The Collected Rites of the Great Ming and the Collected Statutes agree with the ancient regulations. Today the robe has eight emblems and the skirt four, so the robe constantly covers the skirt—yet this has no basis in the canonical texts. The illustrated commentaries kept in the Grand Secretariat probably reflect errors introduced when the official workshops wove the garments and followed corrupted practice. To correct this now is to restore the ancestral regulations, not to alter them." The emperor's mind was made up. He then again told Cong, "The robe has six emblems; in antiquity they were painted, but today they should be woven. I have ordered the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau to consult the founding-era court robes and crown: the sun and moon each measured five inches across, and that measure should be restored. The skirt bore six emblems, and in antiquity they were embroidered; that practice should be followed as well. In antiquity the colors were dark and yellow, taking Heaven and Earth as their model. Today the skirt is deep-red, which carries no proper symbolic meaning; we should return to the ancient practice. The leather belt is the waist belt; jade should be used on it, with pendants and the ceremonial sash fastened below. The knee cover should match the skirt in color, embroidered with a dragon above and fire below; the mountain emblem may be omitted. You and the other ministers of the Grand Secretariat should investigate this together." Thereupon Yang Yiqing and others submitted a detailed memorial: "The sacrificial crown and robe, from the age of Huang and Yu, consisted of a dark upper garment and yellow skirt bearing twelve emblems. The sun, moon, stars, mountain, dragon, and flowering creature, ordered from top to bottom, formed the robe's six emblems; ritual vessels, waterweed, fire, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles, ordered from bottom to top, formed the skirt's six emblems. From the Zhou onward the regulations were gradually altered, sometimes to eight emblems and sometimes to nine, already straying from antiquity. Our Founding Emperor restored the twelve-emblem system, yet the workshops charged with production still followed corrupted practice, contrary to the original intent. We humbly beg Your Majesty to decide without hesitation." The emperor then ordered an auspicious day chosen for correcting the regulations. The crown had a round frame covered with black gauze; the tassels carried twelve beads in seven colors; blue stuffing filled the ears, with two jade beads attached; everything else followed the earlier regulations. There was a dark upper garment and a yellow skirt, the robe and skirt each bearing six emblems. Under the old Hongwu regulations, the sun and moon measured five inches across; the skirt was joined front and back like a curtain, and the six emblems were embroidered. The knee cover matched the skirt in color and was made of gauze, with one dragon embroidered above and three fires below, fastened to the leather belt; the great belt was plain outside and vermilion within, edged in vermilion above and green below. The leather belt bore jade in front but not behind, with pendants and sash attached to cover the rear. The inner robe and jade tablet both followed the Yongle regulations. There were vermilion stockings and red court shoes, with yellow stripe edging and dark knotted laces. The emperor's Communication-with-Heaven Cap dress was fixed in Hongwu 1 (1368). For suburban temples, inspection of sacrificial animals, the crown prince's and princes' capping and wedding rites, and fasting consecration, he wore the Communication-with-Heaven Cap and a deep-red gauze robe. The cap bore a gold Mount Bo ornament, twelve cicada pins, pearls and kingfisher feathers on the front, a black cap covering, cord tassels, and a jade hairpin guide. The deep-red gauze robe followed the deep-garment cut. There was a white gauze inner robe with a black collar, cuffs, edging, and hem. There was a deep-red gauze knee cover, a white false belt, and a square-hearted curved collar. White stockings and red court shoes completed the dress. The leather belt and pendant sash were the same as those worn with the sacrificial robe.
4
The emperor's leather cap (ceremonial) dress was worn for new- and full-moon court audiences, the promulgation of edicts, incense offerings, the presentation of memorials, tribute missions from the four quarters, audiences for outer officials, and the announcement of successful examination candidates. After the Jiajing reign, it was also worn when sacrificing to the Year Star, mountains, rivers, and other deities. Its regulations were fixed in Hongwu 26 (1393). The leather cap was covered with black gauze and had twelve seams front and back; each seam carried twelve five-colored jade ornaments, with a jade hairpin guide and a red cord tassel. The robe was of deep-red gauze, and the knee cover matched it in color. There was a leather belt with white jade pendants. There were jade hook plaques and a great belt in crimson and white. White stockings and black court shoes completed the dress. In Yongle 3 (1405) the leather cap was fixed as before, except that the seams, the cap ridge, and the points where the hairpin passed and the tassel was tied were all ornamented with gold and jade. The jade tablet matched the court-robe tablet in length, had a central ridge, and bore paired inscriptions. The deep-red gauze robe had a collar, cuffs, edging, and hem in the proper colors. There was a red skirt, but without the woven emblem count. The inner robe had a red collar, cuffs, edging, and hem. Everything else followed the inner dress regulations of the court robes and crown.
5
The emperor's military cap dress was worn in early Ming when the emperor took the field in person or dispatched generals on campaign. In Jiajing 8 (1529) the emperor instructed Grand Secretary Zhang Cong, "The Collected Statutes record that personal campaigns and pre-battle prayer sacrifices all require the military cap dress. It must be fully provided." Cong replied: The Rites of Zhou describes the hide cap, by which crimson leather was used for the cap and also for the robe and skirt. Our dynasty, adapting ancient practice, already had regulations for the leather cap (ceremonial). The military cap should follow the leather cap (ceremonial), except that the leather cap is covered with black gauze while the military cap should be covered with deep-red gauze." He then submitted an illustrated plan. The emperor replied, "The plan shows a knee-flap, but no place to fasten it. In antiquity the cap was made with a pointed top; today's leather cap is round. I believe the pointed top was chosen for lightness and sharpness; the cap should follow the ancient form. And why are the robe, skirt, knee-flap, and shoes all red? Moreover, there are no pendants or sash at all — is that acceptable for sacrificial use?" Cong replied, "From antiquity, ceremonial crowns and caps were always worn with a leather belt, the knee cover fastened in front and the sash behind. The hide cap's knee-flap was attached directly to the leather belt. Military affairs emphasize awe and force, so the dress is entirely red." The emperor wrote back to Cong, "The cap, robe, skirt, knee-flap, and shoes should all follow the ancient regulations, with a leather belt, pendant sash, and jade tablet added." The regulations were then fixed: the cap was pointed and red, with twelve seams on the upper part and five-colored jade strung between them, scattered like stars. The crimson-leather robe, skirt, and leggings were all red. The pendants, sash, and leather belt followed the usual regulations. The pendants, sash, and crimson leggings were all fastened to the leather belt above. The shoes matched the skirt in color. The jade tablet was slightly smaller than the quarter-tablet, square at the top and tapered below, and bore seal-script characters reading, "Subdue crime and pacify the people."
6
使
The emperor's daily dress was fixed in Hongwu 3 (1370): a black gauze cap with upturned corners, a round-collared narrow-sleeved robe, and a waist belt sometimes set with gold, amber, and transparent rhinoceros horn. It was revised in Yongle 3 (1405): the cap was covered with black gauze and folded upward at the corners, and afterward was named the Beneficent-Wing Cap. The robe was yellow, with a round collar and narrow sleeves; one gold coiled dragon was woven on the front, back, and each shoulder. The belt was of jade, and the boots were leather. Earlier, in Hongwu 24 (1391), the emperor went incognito to the Divine Music Observatory and saw a man wearing a net cap. The next day he ordered net caps collected and issued to the thirteen provincial commissions; thereafter men of every rank wore them, and the Son of Heaven adopted the net cap as part of his daily dress as well. The Collected Statutes also record, in the imperial great-grandson's capping rite, that "the cap officer kneels and sets the net cap in place," yet the capping dress of the emperor and crown prince is nowhere recorded.
7
沿
In Jiajing 7 (1528) the casual court cap dress was revised. At first, finding that the emperor's dress for private residence still followed ordinary custom, he instructed Zhang Cong to investigate how ancient emperors dressed for ritual occasions at leisure. Cong then drew from the Book of Rites the passage, "Dark robe and deep garment." and submitted it with illustrated commentary. The emperor had him work out the regulations and instructed Cong to submit a detailed proposal. Cong said, "In antiquity, apart from the court robes and crown, the dark robe and deep garment were the most widely worn garments. The dark robe extended from the Son of Heaven down to the scholar; it was the dress mandated by the state. The deep garment extended from the Son of Heaven down to the commoner; it was the ritual dress of the sages. To adorn the dark robe without abandoning the old form, and to make the deep garment yellow while keeping the inner robe unchanged, truly captures the emperor's way of adapting ancient practice to the proper mean." The emperor therefore instructed the Ministry of Rites, "In antiquity the dark robe was worn alike by high and low, but we are not the ancients; even in private residence, rank and dignity should be preserved." Accordingly, drawing on ancient practice, the dress was renamed the "Casual Court Cap," expressing the idea of dwelling alone within the inner palace and taking repose and restraint as a warning. Its regulations were as follows: the cap frame followed the leather cap (ceremonial), covered with black gauze and divided into twelve petals, each traced with gold thread; the front bore one five-colored jade cloud on each side, the rear four mountain ornaments, vermilion cord tassels, and two jade hairpins. The robe followed the ancient dark robe: dark in color with green edging; the shoulders bore embroidered sun and moon; one coiled round dragon appeared in front and two coiled square dragons behind; the border carried eighty-one dragon motifs, and the collar and both sleeves together fifty-nine. The lapel was even front and back, with forty-nine dragon motifs in all. The lining followed the deep-garment cut and was yellow. The sleeves were round and the cuffs square; the lower hem had tie cords and twelve panels reaching the ankle. There was a plain belt, vermilion within and green without, with green edging, and the waist was ornamented with nine jade dragons. Dark shoes had vermilion edging, red tassels, and yellow knots. White stockings completed the dress.
8
The empress's crown and dress were fixed in Hongwu 3 (1370). Upon receiving investiture, visiting the ancestral temple, and attending court assemblies, she wore full ceremonial dress. Her crown had a round frame covered with kingfisher feathers and ornamented with nine dragons and four phoenixes above, twelve large floral sprays, and the same number of smaller flowers. Both wide temple tresses bore twelve hairpin ornaments. The ceremonial robe was deep blue with painted pheasants on a red ground, in twelve grades of five colors. There was a plain gauze inner robe with an opposed-triangle collar and vermilion gauze with patterned weave on the edging and hem. The knee cover matched the robe in color, with dark-crimson collar edging and pheasant emblems in three grades. The great belt matched the robe in color, vermilion within and bordered without, with vermilion brocade above and green brocade below, and green cord fasteners. There was a jade-set leather belt. Green stockings and green court shoes, ornamented with gold. In Yongle 3 (1405) the regulations were revised: the crown bore nine kingfisher dragons and four gold phoenixes; the central dragon held a great pearl beneath a kingfisher canopy, with pearl knots hanging below; the rest all held pearl drops in their mouths; there were forty pearl-and-kingfisher cloud pieces, with great and small pearl flowers in the same numbers as before. Three wide temple tresses were ornamented with gold dragons and kingfisher clouds, each hung with pearl drops. There was one kingfisher mouth ring, set above with twelve pearl-and-gem floral hairpins and the same number of kingfisher hairpin ornaments. There was one gold mouth ring with a backing piece. Five pearl-and-kingfisher forehead ornaments completed the set. There was one pair of pearl strand rings. A black gauze forehead band bore gold-traced dragon motifs and was set with twenty-one pearls. The pheasant robe was deep blue, woven with pheasant motifs in twelve grades and interspersed with small wheel flowers. It had a red collar, cuffs, edging, and hem, woven with gold cloud-and-dragon motifs. The inner robe was jade-colored gauze with a red collar, cuffs, edging, and hem, and thirteen opposed-triangle motifs on the collar. The knee cover matched the robe in color and bore pheasant emblems in three grades, four interspersed small wheel flowers, dark-crimson collar edging, and woven gold cloud-and-dragon motifs. The jade tablet bore a grain pattern, measured seven inches, was tapered at the top and carved with grain motifs, bound below with yellow gauze, and sheathed in a yellow pouch embroidered with gold dragons. There was a jade-set leather belt with a green gauze strap traced in gold with cloud-and-dragon motifs, ten jade fittings, and four gold fittings. The great belt was green and red in equal halves inside and out, purely red at the tip, with the lower hanging portion woven in gold cloud-and-dragon motifs, vermilion edging above, green edging below, and one supplementary green gauze belt. The ceremonial sash used five colors—yellow, red, white, pale crimson, and green—on deep-red thread, with two jade rings spaced along it, all fully woven. Three smaller sashes matched the colors of the great sash. There were two jade pendants, each comprising one top bar, one secondary piece, two square plaques, one impact tooth, and two arc pieces; from the secondary piece hung one jade blossom and two jade drops; they were carved with cloud-and-dragon motifs and traced in gold; below the top bar five cords were fastened, strung with jade beads; when the wearer walked, the impact tooth, the two drops, and the two arc pieces chimed against one another; gold hooks were fitted above, supplemented by a small five-colored sash of deep-red thread, fully woven. Green stockings and court shoes bore gold-traced cloud-and-dragon ornament, black trim, and five pearls on each toe.
9
The empress's everyday dress was fixed in Hongwu 3 (1370): the Twin-Phoenix Flanking Dragon Crown, with head ornaments, bracelets, and bangles of gold, jade, pearls, gems, and kingfisher. She wore round-collared jackets in various colors embroidered in gold with dragon-and-phoenix motifs, with a belt of gold and jade. In the fourth year the dress was revised to the Dragon-and-Phoenix Pearl-and-Kingfisher Crown, a true-red large-sleeved robe with cloud collar, a red gauze long skirt, and a red over-jacket. The crown followed the special-topknot form topped with dragon-and-phoenix ornament, and the robe bore woven-gold dragon-and-phoenix motifs with added embroidery. In Yongle 3 (1405) it was revised again: the crown was black gauze with an attached kingfisher Mount Bo, bearing one gold dragon above flanked by pearls. Two kingfisher phoenixes, each holding a pearl drop in its mouth. Before and behind were two pearl peonies of eight stamens each and thirty-six kingfisher leaves. There were two pearl-and-kingfisher cluster-flower temple tresses, twenty-one pearl-and-kingfisher cloud pieces, and one kingfisher mouth ring. Nine gold-and-gem floral hairpins were set with pearls. Two gold phoenixes held pearl knots in their mouths. Three wide temple tresses were ornamented with luan-birds and phoenixes. Twenty-four gold-and-gem hairpin ornaments hung pearl drops from their edges. Two gold hairpins completed the set. There was one coral phoenix crown beak-piece. The great robe was yellow and the cloud collar deep blue, woven in gold with cloud, mist, and dragon motifs—or embroidered or appliquéd with kingfisher circled in gold—ornamented with pearl-and-jade pendants and carved with dragon designs. A four-panel over-jacket, that is, the over-jacket.)〉 deep blue and gold-embroidered with coiled dragon roundels. The ju robe was red, with gold cloud-and-dragon motifs woven front and back—or embroidered or appliquéd with kingfisher circled in gold—and set with pearls. The great belt was red-thread gauze with edging; the remaining portions were blue or green according to the color of the ju robe. The bordered jacket was yellow with a red collar, cuffs, edging, and hem, all woven in gold with multicolored cloud-and-dragon motifs. The bordered skirt was red with green edging and border, woven in gold with multicolored cloud-and-dragon motifs. The jade belt followed the inner regulations of the pheasant robe, but with one gold fitting omitted. The jade-flower colored-knot sash used a red-and-green thread gauze knot, with one jade sash flower carved in cloud-and-dragon motif. The sash belt bore six jade pendants and pearls, four gold hanging petal ornaments, and six small gold leaves. A red-thread gauze tie belt completed the set. Two white jade cloud-shaped tinklers followed pendant regulations and bore gold hooks; one gold ruyi cloud canopy hung below on five strands of red cord, with one gold square-hearted cloud plaque—all inlaid with cloud-and-dragon designs and lined with red gauze; below hung four gold long-headed flowers with a small gold bell among them, and five white jade cloud pieces at the end. Green stockings and court shoes matched the inner regulations of the pheasant robe.
10
The crowns and dress of imperial consorts, imperial concubines, and inner-court titled ladies were fixed in Hongwu 3 (1370). For receiving investiture, assisting at sacrifices, and attending court assemblies, the imperial consort wore full ceremonial dress. The crown bore nine pheasant plumes and four phoenixes, nine floral hairpin sprays, and the same number of smaller flowers. Both wide temple tresses bore nine hairpin ornaments. The pheasant robe had a blue ground embroidered with pheasants arranged in sequence on robe and skirt in nine grades. There was a blue gauze inner robe with an opposed-triangle collar and vermilion gauze with patterned weave on the edging and hem. The knee cover matched the skirt in color, bore added embroidered double-pheasant emblems in two grades, and had dark-crimson collar edging. The great belt matched the robe in color. There was a jade-set leather belt. Green stockings and court shoes, with pendant sash, completed the dress. Everyday dress comprised the Luan-and-Phoenix Crown, with head ornaments, bracelets, and bangles of gold, jade, pearls, gems, and kingfisher. Round-collared jackets in various colors were gold-embroidered with luan-birds and phoenixes, but yellow was forbidden. The belt was of gold, jade, and rhinoceros horn. The pine-mountain special topknot was also prescribed, with false temple tresses and floral hairpin ornaments, or flower hairpins with a phoenix crown. Everyday dress included a true-red large-sleeved robe, cloud collar, red gauze skirt, and over-jacket, the robe bearing woven-gold and embroidered phoenix motifs. In Yongle 3 (1405) ceremonial dress was revised again: the Nine-Pheasant Crown was black gauze with an attached kingfisher Mount Bo, bearing two large pearl pheasants, three small pearl pheasants, and four kingfisher pheasants, all holding pearl drops in their mouths. The crown held one treasure pearl at its center and one kingfisher summit cloud; pearl peonies, kingfisher cluster-flower temple tresses, and the like all followed the Twin-Phoenix Flanking Dragon Crown, but with ten kingfisher clouds omitted. There were also two kingfisher peonies and two cluster flowers each, four forehead flowers, four plum-blossom rings, and two pearl rings apiece. The great robe, cloud collar, and private-residence sash and pendant ornaments all matched the empress's, but woven gold, embroidery, and carving bore cloud, mist, and phoenix motifs throughout—not cloud-and-dragon designs.
11
The crowns and dress of the Nine Concubines were first fixed in Jiajing 10 (1531): the crown bore nine pheasants, ranking below the imperial consort's phoenix. The great robe and ju robe followed the imperial consort's regulations. The jade tablet was of secondary grade, carved with a grain pattern.
12
The crowns and dress of inner-court titled ladies were fixed in Hongwu 5 (1372): those of third rank and above wore flower hairpins and pheasant robes; fourth and fifth ranks wore the pine-mountain special topknot; the great robe served as ceremonial dress. Noble ladies were accorded third-rank status: for ceremonial dress they wore the imperial consort's private-residence crown with great robe and cloud collar; for everyday dress, the Pearl-and-Kingfisher Auspicious-Cloud Crown with ju robe, over-jacket, and bordered jacket and skirt.
13
Palace attendants' crowns and dress followed Song-dynasty regulations. They wore purple round-collared jackets with narrow sleeves, embroidered throughout with broken-branch sunflowers circled in gold, a pearl net, a gold-sewn belt, and a red skirt. Bow-shaped shoes were embroidered with small gold flowers. A black gauze cap ornamented with flowers had round pearls set on the brow. Knotted-pearl temple tress combs completed the headdress. Hanging-pearl ear ornaments completed the set.
14
The crown prince's crown and dress: when assisting at sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, the altars of soil and grain, and the ancestral temple, and at great court assemblies, investiture, and betrothal, he wore the full ceremonial crown and robe. Fixed in Hongwu 26 (1393): a nine-emblem ceremonial robe, a crown with nine pendants bearing nine jade pieces, a gold hairpin guide, a red cord chin strap, and two jade ear-plugs. The jade tablet measured nine and a half inches. The dark upper garment and deep-red skirt bore five emblems on the robe—mountain, dragon, flowering creature, ritual vessels, and fire—woven in place; the skirt four emblems—waterweed, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles. The inner robe was white gauze with an opposed-triangle collar. The knee cover matched the skirt in color and bore fire and mountain emblems in two grades. There was a leather belt with gold hook and Bi ornament, and jade pendants. The ceremonial sash used five colors red, white, black, pale crimson, and green.)〉 fully woven, of pure red thread, with three hundred thirty tassels. Three smaller sashes matched the colors. Three jade rings were spaced along them. The great belt was white without and vermilion within, with red edging above and green below. White stockings and red court shoes completed the dress. In Yongle 3 (1405) the ceremonial crown was fixed: dark without and vermilion within, round in front and square behind, with nine pendants before and behind. Each pendant used five-colored silk with nine tassels, strung with nine five-colored jade pieces—red, white, green, yellow, and black in sequence. A jade crossbar and gold hairpin secured the crown; a dark cord hung green silk ear-plugs to fill the ears, made of green jade.)〉 supported by a white-jade ear-plug on a vermilion strap and chin tassel. The jade tablet was nine cun and five fen long; brocade bound its lower end, and a pouch sheathed it entirely. The sacrificial robe bore nine emblems: the dark upper garment had five—dragon on the shoulders, mountain on the back, and fire, flowering creature, and ritual vessels on the sleeves, three on each sleeve.)〉 all woven to completion. The collar, cuffs, edging, and hem were in the proper colors. The deep-red skirt bore four emblems—waterweed, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles, two of each—in three panels before and four behind, not joined front to back but sharing the waist, with a pleated fold and edging in the proper colors along the sides and hem. The inner robe was plain gauze with a green collar, cuffs, edging, and hem, and eleven opposed-triangle motifs woven on the collar. The knee cover matched the skirt in color and bore four emblems—waterweed, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles. It had edging in the proper colors and cords worked into the seams. There were two jade hooks above. There were two jade pendants, each comprising one top bar, one secondary piece, one square plaque, one impact tooth, and two arc pieces; from the secondary piece hung one jade blossom and two jade drops. They were carved with cloud-and-dragon motifs and traced in gold. Below the top bar five cords were fastened, strung with jade beads. There were gold hooks above. There were small sashes in four colors red, white, pale crimson, and green.)〉 to supplement them, of deep-red thread. The great belt was plain outside and vermilion within; at the waist and in the hanging portions it was edged throughout—vermilion above and green below. The knot fasteners were of green cord. The great ceremonial sash used four colors, red, white, pale crimson, and green.)〉 of deep-red thread. There were small sashes in three colors. Two jade rings were spaced along them, with dragon motifs, all woven to completion. Stockings and court shoes were red; the shoes had black knotted trim and black ornament on the toe. For new- and full-moon court audiences, the promulgation of edicts, incense offerings, the presentation of memorials, tribute missions from foreign states, and audiences, he wore the leather cap. In Yongle 3 (1405) the regulations were set: the leather cap was covered with black gauze and had nine seams front and back; each seam carried nine five-colored jade ornaments; the seams, the cap ridge, and the points where the hairpin passed and the tassel was tied were all ornamented with gold. There was a gold hairpin and a vermilion tassel. The jade tablet followed the court-robe regulations. The deep-red gauze robe had a collar, cuffs, edging, and hem in the proper colors. The red skirt followed the court robe's inner-skirt regulations, but without woven emblems. The inner robe was plain gauze, cut like the deep garment. It had a red collar, cuffs, edging, and hem, with eleven opposed-triangle motifs woven on the collar. The knee cover matched the skirt in color, with edging in the proper colors and cords worked into the seams; above it were two jade hooks; the jade pendants followed the court-robe regulations, but without cloud-and-dragon motifs; small sashes in four colors supplemented them. The great belt, great ceremonial sash, stockings, and court shoes were red, all as in the court-robe regulations. Daily dress was fixed in Hongwu 1 (1368): a black gauze folded-up cap. In Yongle 3 (1405) the cap was fixed as black gauze with the corners folded upward, also called the Wings-of-Goodness Crown; imperial princes, commandery princes, and heir apparents all wore the same.)〉 The robe was red, with a round collar and narrow sleeves, and one gold-woven coiled dragon each on the front, back, and both shoulders. There were a jade belt and leather boots. The crown princess's crown and dress were fixed in Hongwu 3 (1370); her ceremonial dress matched the imperial consort's. In Yongle 3 (1405) it was revised to the Nine-Kingfisher-Feathers-and-Four-Phoenixes crown: a lacquered bamboo-silk frame covered with kingfisher feathers, ornamented above with nine kingfisher crest-feathers and four gold phoenixes, all holding pearl drops in their mouths. There were forty pearl-and-kingfisher cloud pieces, nine great pearl-flower sprays, and the same number of small pearl flowers. Both wide temple tresses were ornamented with luan-phoenixes, each hanging pearl drops. There was one set of kingfisher mouth-rings, ornamented above with nine pearl-and-gem hairpin flowers and the same number of kingfisher hairpin ornaments. There was one set of gold mouth-rings with backing. There were five pearl-and-kingfisher face flowers. There was one pair of pearl row-rings. There was one pearl-black gauze forehead piece, gold-traced with phoenix motifs and set with twenty-one pearls. The pheasant robe was green, woven with pheasant motifs in nine grades and interspersed with small rosette flowers. It had a red collar, cuffs, edging, and hem woven with gold cloud-and-dragon motifs. The inner robe was of jade-colored gauze. It had a red collar, cuffs, edging, and hem, with eleven opposed-triangle motifs woven on the collar.
15
The knee cover matched the robe in color, with pheasant emblems in two grades interspersed with three small rosette flowers, dark-crimson collar edging, and gold cloud-and-phoenix motifs woven upon it. The jade tablet, belt, sash, jade pendants, stockings, and shoes all followed the imperial consort's regulations. Daily dress was also fixed in Hongwu 3 (1370). There was a rhino-horn crown carved with flower and phoenix motifs. Head ornaments, bracelets, robe, and belt all matched the imperial consort's. In the fourth year the crown was also fixed to match the imperial consort's. In Yongle 3 (1405) the at-leisure crown was fixed: black patterned gauze with a kingfisher ornamental mountain attached, one treasure pearl ornamented above, and two pearl-and-kingfisher phoenixes flanking it, all holding pearl drops in their mouths. Front and back there were two pearl peonies of eight stamens each and thirty-six kingfisher leaves. There were two pearl-and-kingfisher clustered-flower temple tresses. There were sixteen pearl-and-kingfisher cloud pieces. There was one set of kingfisher mouth-rings. There were nine gold-and-treasure hairpin flowers, each ornamented above with nine pearls. There was one pair of gold phoenixes, each holding a pearl knot in its mouth. Both wide temple tresses were ornamented with luan-phoenixes. There were eighteen gold-and-treasure hairpin ornaments, with pearl drops hanging from the edges. There was one pair of gold hairpins. There was one set of coral phoenix-cap beak-pieces. The great robe, cloud collar, and at-leisure crown, sash, and pendant ornaments all matched the imperial consort's. Imperial princes' crowns and dress: for assisting at sacrifices, visiting temples, congratulatory audiences, receiving investiture, and taking a consort they wore the sacrificial crown and robe; for new- and full-moon court audiences, the promulgation of edicts, incense offerings, the presentation of memorials, tribute from the four quarters, and audiences they wore the leather cap. In Hongwu 26 (1393) the court robe was fixed to match the Eastern Palace's in all respects, except that the crown tassels used five colors; the jade tablet was nine cun, two fen, and five li long; and the upper garment was green and the skirt deep red. In Yongle 3 (1405) the court robe and leather cap were again fixed, both matching the Eastern Palace's; daily dress likewise matched the Eastern Palace's.
16
仿
In Jiajing 7 (1528) he instructed the Ministry of Rites, "Drawing on the ancient dark robe, I have myself devised the Casual Court Cap dress and further devised the Loyal Serenity crown and dress, bestowing them upon officeholders; yet regulations for the imperial clans and princes remain incomplete. Now, drawing on the regulations for the Casual Court Cap and the Loyal Serenity cap, I have again prepared models with illustrations and named them the Preservation-and-Harmony crown and dress. For eldest sons of commandery princes and above, the forms are already established. From State-pacifying Generals down to Supporters-of-the-State Second Captains, together with chief secretaries, judicial reviewers, recorders of goodness, instructors, and study companions, all wear the Loyal Serenity crown and dress according to rank. Protocol sons-in-law and other officials may not wear them without authorization. The distinct styles of the Loyal Serenity crown and dress mark the grades by which the worthy are honored. The distinct styles of the Preservation-and-Harmony crown and dress mark the degrees by which kinship is differentiated. Once grades and degrees are clear, ritual may be preserved; preservation yields harmony, and harmony yields tranquility—this is the meaning of the name bestowed. Issue the illustrated explanation to all princely establishments and have them obey it as by imperial command." The Preservation-and-Harmony cap followed the Casual Court Cap, with nine pleats; the hairpins and five jades were removed; the rear mountain was a single panel divided into four sections. The robe was green with green edging, square dragon patches front and back, a plain ground on the body, and cloud motifs on the border. The lining followed the deep-garment cut and was jade in color. The belt was green outside and within, with green edging. Shoes were black with green knots, and stockings were white.
17
The imperial prince consort's crown and dress: for receiving investiture, assisting at sacrifices, and court assemblies she wore full ceremonial dress. In Hongwu 3 (1370) the Nine-Kingfisher-Feathers-and-Four-Phoenixes crown was fixed. In Yongle 3 (1405) the Nine-Pheasants crown was again fixed, following the imperial consort's regulations. Her great robe, cloud collar, and at-leisure crown, sash, and pendant ornaments matched the crown princess's, except for one fewer gold ornament; the jade sash flowers were carved with treasure-lotus motifs.
18
Princesses' crowns and dress matched the imperial prince consort's, except that they did not use the jade tablet.
19
The heir to a prince wore the full ceremonial crown and robe for the Sacred Festival and Longevity Festival, as well as for New Year's Day, the Winter Solstice, when presenting congratulatory memorials, and for every other celebration of his father's birthday and comparable holidays. Established in Hongwu 26 (1393): the ceremonial robe bore seven emblems; the crown was set with tri-colored jade beads and carried seven pendant strings. The jade tablet was nine inches long. The green upper robe had three emblem sections, woven with the flowering creature, fire, and ritual vessels. The deep-red skirt had four sections, woven with waterweed, millet grain, axe-and-gouge, and opposed triangles. The inner robe was plain gauze, with a green collar and cuff edging and a red knee cover. There was a leather belt with a white jade pendant and a black silk cord sash. The great ceremonial sash was purple and used three colors purple, yellow, and red.)〉 Woven to completion, with three white jade rings spaced along it. Stockings were white and court shoes red. Revised in Yongle 3 (1405): the ceremonial crown had eight pendant strings front and back; each string was five-colored, with eight tufts of spun silk, strung with eight tri-colored jade beads in alternating red, white, and green. The jade tablet was nine inches long. The green upper robe had three emblem sections: fire at the shoulders, flowering creature and ritual vessels on both sleeves—all woven to completion. Collar, cuffs, cuff edging, and hem were in the garment's natural color. The deep-red skirt, jade pendants, belt, and sash all followed the prince's regulations, except that the opposed-triangle motifs woven on the collar were reduced by two. The leather cap was covered with black gauze and had eight seams front and back; each seam carried eight tri-colored jade ornaments; everything else followed the prince's regulations. The jade tablet, pendants, belt, sash, stockings, and court shoes followed the inner specifications of the ceremonial robe. Everyday dress was likewise the same as for a prince. In Jiajing 7 (1528) the Baohe court dress was established, modeled on the yan cap with eight panels, the hairpin jade removed, and the rear peak divided into four sections by a single fan-shaped partition; the dress itself matched that of a prince.
20
The crown and dress of a prince's heir consort: established in Yongle 3 (1405), they matched those of a prince's consort, except that the crown bore seven pheasant ornaments.
21
The crown and dress of a commandery prince: established in Yongle 3 (1405), the ceremonial crown had seven pendant strings front and back; each string was five-colored, with seven tufts of spun silk, strung with seven tri-colored jade beads. The jade tablet was nine inches long. The green upper robe had three emblem sections: millet grain at the shoulders, waterweed and ritual vessels on both sleeves—all woven to completion. The deep-red skirt had two emblem sections, with two axe-and-gouge and two opposed-triangle motifs woven on it. The inner robe bore seven opposed-triangle motifs woven on the collar; everything else matched the prince's heir. The leather cap had seven seams front and back; each seam carried seven tri-colored jade ornaments; everything else matched the prince's heir. The jade tablet, pendants, belt, sash, stockings, and court shoes followed the inner specifications of the ceremonial robe. Everyday dress was likewise the same as for the prince's heir. In Jiajing 7 (1528) the Baohe court dress was established; the crown had seven panels, and the dress matched that of the prince's heir.
22
The crown and dress of a commandery prince's consort: established in Yongle 3 (1405), the crown bore seven pheasant ornaments and otherwise matched those of a prince's heir consort. The great robe, cloud collar, and ornaments for informal dress and personal adornment all matched those of a prince's consort, except that cloud-and-pheasant motifs were embroidered in place of coiled phoenix motifs.
23
The court dress of a commandery prince's eldest son comprised a seven-ridge crown; a great crimson plain-gauze robe over a white plain-gauze inner robe; a crimson plain-gauze skirt and knee cover; a great belt in crimson plain gauze and white plain gauze; a jade court belt; a cinnabar-red floral brocade sash with golden-pheasant ornament; a jade pendant; an ivory tablet; white silk stockings; and black leather cloud-toe court shoes. For official dress he wore a black crepe-gauze wraparound cap, a great crimson plain silk-floss robe, and a jade leather belt. For everyday dress he wore a black gauze cap, a crimson silk-floss robe woven with gold lions and an open front, a round collar, a jade sash belt, and black leather boots with copper stitching. His Baohe cap followed the Zhongjing regulations, with five panels; the dress matched that of a commandery prince, with a square-dragon rank badge woven in gold.
24
The crown and dress of a commandery princess: established in Yongle 3 (1405), they matched those of a commandery prince's consort. Only the jade tablet was omitted, and one pair of four-bead rings was removed.
25
The crown and dress of the commandery prince's eldest son's lady comprised a pearl-and-kingfisher five-pheasant crown, a great crimson silk-floss robe, a deep blue silk-floss beizi embroidered in gold with pheasants, a blue gauze cloud collar embroidered in gold with pheasants, and a gold pendant headpiece.
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The crown and dress of a Defender-General of the State matched those of a commandery prince's eldest son. The crown and dress of a Defender-General's lady matched those of a commandery prince's eldest son's lady. The crown and dress of a Bulwark-General of the State matched those of a Defender-General, except that the crown had six ridges and the belt was of rhinoceros horn. The crown and dress of a Bulwark-General's lady matched those of a Defender-General's lady, except that the crown bore four pheasant ornaments and the pendant headpiece was gilded silver. The crown and dress of a Supporter-General of the State matched those of a Bulwark-General, except that the crown had five ridges, the belt was embossed gold, and everyday dress was crimson with woven gold tigers and leopards. The crown and dress of a Supporter-General's lady of virtue matched those of a Bulwark-General's lady, except that the beizi and cloud collar were embroidered in gold with peacock motifs. The crown and dress of a Defender-Commandant of the State matched those of a Supporter-General, except that the crown had four ridges, the belt was plain gold, and the pendant was of medicinal jade. The crown and dress of a Defender-Commandant's lady of honor matched those of a Supporter-General's lady of virtue. The crown and dress of a Bulwark-Commandant matched those of a Defender-Commandant, except that the crown had three ridges, the belt was embossed silver, the sash bore a soaring-eagle motif, official dress used deep blue plain gauze, and everyday dress was red with woven gold bears. The crown and dress of a Bulwark-Commandant's suitable lady matched those of a Defender-Commandant's lady of honor, except that the crown bore three pheasant ornaments, the beizi and cloud collar were embroidered in gold with mandarin ducks, and the pendant headpiece was silver. The crown and dress of a Supporter-Commandant matched those of a Bulwark-Commandant, except that the crown had two ridges, the belt was plain silver, the sash bore a white-magpie motif, the wraparound cap was black lacquer, and everyday dress was red with woven gold leopards. The crown and dress of a Supporter-Commandant's lady of peace matched those of a Bulwark-Commandant's suitable lady, except that the great robe was cinnabar-red and the beizi and cloud collar were embroidered in gold with white-magpie motifs.
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The crown and dress of a county princess comprised a pearl-and-kingfisher five-pheasant crown, a great crimson silk-floss robe, a deep blue silk-floss beizi embroidered in gold with peacocks, a blue gauze cloud collar embroidered in gold with peacocks, and a gilded silver pendant headpiece. The crown and dress of a commandery noblewoman matched those of a county princess, except that the crown bore four pheasant ornaments and the beizi and cloud collar were embroidered in gold with mandarin ducks. The crown and dress of a county noblewoman matched those of a commandery noblewoman, except that the crown bore three pheasant ornaments. The crown and dress of a township noblewoman matched those of a county noblewoman, except that the great robe was cinnabar-red and the beizi and cloud collar were embroidered in gold with white-magpie motifs.
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