Blue Silk Robe Embroidered with Dragon Design, 14th Century - 17th Century, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Silk. Waist Width 62 cm, Sleeve Length 80 cm, Sleeve Width 88 cm. The Collections of Cultural Relics in the Confucius Family Mansion. Shandong Museum © Virtual Collection of Asian Masterpieces, 2013

The outside layer is in blue and the inner in pink. Both front and back sides were embroidered with boa designs. This costume was conferred by the first Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

During the Ming dynasty, the ceremonial robes for the emperors were embroidered with dragons while the robes for the princes and court ministers were embroidered with boa designs to show their royal position. This robe is from the Collections of the Confucius Family Mansion, where the direct descendants of Confucius lived and which is located near the Confucius temple in Qufu, Shandong. The Family members were in charge of tending to the temple and cemetery and in particular of conducting elaborate religious ceremonies. The mansion was rebuilt in 1377 directed by the first Ming dynasty Emperor. The Hongwu Emperor (October 21, 1328 – June 24, 1398), also known by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang was the founder and first emperor (1368–98) of the Ming Dynasty of China. He is considered to be one of the most significant Emperors of China.