Manchu Emperor’s ceremonial twelve-symbol jifu court robe

Emperor's ceremonial twelve-symbol coat of yellow k'ossu with nine five-clawed dragons, those in profile clasping the Heavenly Jewel. Background of loosely drawn cloud forms, bats, and good luck emblems in shades of blue, green, violet, red, rose, and gold. At bottom wide border of tossing waves dotted with flowers, flower vases, swastika and other emblems. At sides, center front and back where coat is slit, small areas of slanting, wavy stripes. Similar reduced border at elbows, where sleeve is extended by a strip of ribbed yellow silk finished with cuffs of dark blue k'ossu. Band of same dark blue k'ossu around neck and down front to under arm. Coat lined with figured blue silk and lightly interlined. Yellow ceremonial coats worn in sacrifices to earth.