Preface
In that ancient dynastic era, a gorgeous costume can condense so much power and mystery? It witnessed the rise and fall of one dynasty after another, but it turned into dust in the baptism of time, and finally left only endless reverie. It was the revered dragon robe.
In ancient times, the emperor's dragon robe was a symbol of supremacy, however, due to the limitations of traditional production techniques, the dragon robe could not be washed. If there is a foul smell on the dragon robe, what should be done?
The sacred status of the dragon robe
Since ancient times, dragons have been regarded as sacred beasts, a symbol of power and dignity. In this mythical land of China, dragons are revered like no other.
Every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, people all over the country will hold grand sacrificial activities, dragon and lion dances, praying for smooth wind and rain, peace and security of the country and the people. This folk custom is a kind of worship of the dragon totem.
With the passage of time, the status of the dragon gradually sublimated and became the representative of imperial power. According to historical records, as early as the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu Liu Che embroidered the pattern of a five-clawed flying dragon on his dragon robe, demonstrating the supreme authority of the emperor. Since then, the dragon pattern on the dragon robe has become the exclusive symbol of the emperor, and ordinary people have no right to wear it.
In the Tang Dynasty, the production process of dragon robes reached its peak. At that time, the dragon robe was not only made of fine silk and satin in texture, but also carefully carved in the pattern, with nine flying dragons hovering over it, with different shapes and majestic expressions. In addition to the dragon pattern, the dragon robe is also decorated with a smart auspicious cloud pattern, which contrasts with the nine dragons. The whole dragon robe is resplendent and dazzling, which is awe-inspiring.
Making such a beautiful dragon robe naturally requires a lot of manpower and material investment. It is said that it often takes three years for a dragon robe to be designed and finally completed. The craftsmen who can make the dragon robe themselves are also carefully selected and carefully trained by the imperial court, and they need to go through many years of special training to master the exquisite skills of dragon robe embroidery.
Because of this, the dragon robe became the emperor's patent, and ordinary people had no chance to see it. Whenever a new emperor ascends the throne, he must wear a new dragon robe and accept tribute to show the emperor's authority. This solemn ceremony all shows the special connection between the dragon robe and the imperial power.
The sacred and majestic bearing of the dragon robe, and the magnificent and splendid costumes, make people involuntarily have a strange sense of awe. It sets off the prosperity and majesty of the emperor, and shows the supremacy that is completely different from ordinary people. This sense of shock and estrangement has become the most real experience of the people on the dragon robe. Because of this, rare things belong to only one person, and the dragon robe has become the best portrayal of the uniqueness of imperial power.
Special care for the dragon robe
Although the dragon robe is priceless, it will inevitably be worn dirty as a costume. However, due to the extremely exquisite material and craftsmanship of the dragon robe, ordinary washing methods are not allowed, otherwise it is easy to cause irreversible damage such as fading and deformation of the pattern. So, how did the ancients maintain dragon robes?
One of the most common methods is fumigation with spices. The craftsmen in the palace would prepare a variety of fine spices, such as agarwood, sandalwood, dipterocarp, etc., and after lighting them, they would allow the dragon robe to swirl slowly in a rich incense mist.
Cigarettes can temporarily suppress odors, and at the same time, they can also bring a burst of fragrance to the dragon robe. However, although this method is simple, it requires repeated operations, and the effect is not ideal. As a result, the craftsmen have also invented another, more sophisticated way of maintaining it.
For localized stains, they use alcohol to wash them on a small scale. The craftsmen will first dip a soft cloth in an appropriate amount of alcohol, and then carefully wipe it on the dragon robe, waiting for the alcohol to evaporate naturally. Although this method can remove some stubborn stains, there is also a certain risk, if not done properly, it is easy to damage the embroiderer of the dragon robe.
In addition to the two common methods mentioned above, the ancients also creatively invented a unique way of cleaning - fumigation with steam. Craftsmen place several cauldrons around the robes, burning firewood and pouring water into the pots, which produce a large amount of water vapor when the water boils. Next, they would carefully hang the robe above the steam, allowing it to swirl slowly in the humid heat.
After a period of fumigation, the dirt and odor on the robe will be washed away by the steam, and the whole garment will regain its shine. This cleaning method may seem simple, but the subtleties are truly breathtaking. The steam is effective in removing stains without damaging the material and pattern of the robe.
Moreover, the steam also carries the aftertaste of firewood burning, which can add an elegant fragrance to the dragon robe. It can be said that this method is not only environmentally friendly and efficient, but also reflects the wisdom and creativity of the ancients.
Restoration and refurbishment of dragon robes
No matter what kind of maintenance method is adopted, the dragon robe will inevitably wear out in long-term use. For example, the color will gradually fade, and the pattern will fall off or crack. Once this is the case with the dragon robe, the craftsmen need to immediately repair and refurbish it to ensure the decency of the dragon robe.
The most common way to fix this is through patching. The craftsmen will carefully inspect the torn parts of the robe, then cut the appropriate patches from the finest silk of similar material to them, and then sew them up to the torn areas.
For the restoration of the pattern, they need to spend more effort. The artisans will first copy the intact pattern and then re-embroider the same pattern on the patch to make it exactly like the original. This work is undoubtedly a great challenge, which not only tests the embroidery skills of the craftsmen, but also requires their extraordinary patience and meticulousness.
In addition to patches, the craftsmen also needed to restore the jewelry on the dragon robe. Dragon robes are often inlaid with valuable pearls, jadeite and other gemstones, which will inevitably fall or wear out during long-term wear.
In this case, the craftsmen need to re-select the finest gemstones and set them back into the robe one by one. This may seem like a simple job, but it requires a high level of skill. Because every gem on the dragon robe shows the noble status of the emperor, the slightest mistake may be regarded as a desecration of the imperial power.
Sometimes, the damage to the robes is beyond the ability of the craftsmen to repair them. For example, some parts of the embroidery have been completely damaged, or the color of the entire dragon robe has been dulled. At this time, the craftsmen had to take an extremely bold approach - to split and remake the dragon robe.
They will first completely disassemble the dragon robe and carefully inspect every detail. They keep parts that are well preserved, such as certain patterns or gemstones. Those parts that have been completely destroyed will be discarded. Next, the craftsmen need to redesign the new dragon robe pattern and add new elements to the original intact parts to finally sew a new dragon robe.
This method of splitting and remaking not only saves a lot of manpower and material resources, but more importantly, retains the precious elements in the dragon robe as much as possible. After all, each dragon robe embodies the efforts of countless craftsmen and has extremely high artistic value, and it would be great if they could be passed down from generation to generation.
However, whether it is patched, inlaid or remastered, craftsmen need to be extremely careful when working with it. Because the dragon robe is a symbol of the emperor, any slight negligence can be seen as a blasphemy against the imperial power.
It is said that once when setting gemstones in the dragon robe, a craftsman accidentally dropped a jade on the ground, and was executed on the spot, which shows how heavy the dragon robe was in the hearts of the ancients.
The ultimate fate of the dragon robe
No matter how carefully the craftsmen maintain and repair it, the dragon robe will eventually escape the fate of being used to the limit. After a dragon robe has been worn by several generations of emperors, its material and pattern have long since lost its brilliance. When the damage to the robe could not be repaired, the emperor would order a new robe to be made and replaced with a new one.
And the old dragon robe that has been with you for many years will also usher in its ultimate fate - it will be burned in the most hidden corners of the palace. This is out of supreme respect for the sacred status of the dragon robe, and also to prevent it from wandering into the people, thus desecrating the emperor's holy face.
According to historical records, such a ridiculous incident occurred during the Ming Dynasty. At that time, a palace maid accidentally took the emperor's old dragon robe out of the court, and was executed on the spot, and was cremated along with the dragon robe. It can be seen that the ancients attached great importance to the dragon robe, and it has reached a point that is almost superstitious.
However, this practice also reflects from another side how heavy the dragon robe was in the minds of the ancients. It not only represents a symbol of imperial power, but also the embodiment of a true dragon. Therefore, it must shine brightly at all times and show the majesty of the emperor. Once it loses its brilliance, it is destined to be burned and turned to dust.
Of course, although the dragon robe will be burned to the ground, the imperial power and imperial dignity it represents are immortal. The birth of each dragon robe witnesses the beginning of a new dynasty. And its demise will inevitably be accompanied by the end of a dynasty. In this way, the dragon robes have been passed down from generation to generation, carrying the continuous development of Chinese civilization.
epilogue
From this point of view, the dragon robe is a microcosm of traditional Chinese culture. It embodies the wisdom and painstaking efforts of countless craftsmen, embodies the supreme reverence of the ancients for power, and highlights the persistent pursuit of wealth and glory of the Chinese nation.
Behind every dragon robe, there is a history that can be sung and cried. They have witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, and also recorded the glory and dreams of this ancient country.
Yes, the mystery of the dragon robe has finally been revealed. On this road of exploration of traditional culture, we not only appreciate the past and present lives of the dragon robe, but also feel the supreme awe of power. And all this will also be turned into eternal memories and remain in our hearts forever!