Special costume: mang

Today, let’s learn about a special costume: mang (the ceremonial robe embroidered with patterns of a four-toed dragon and sea-waves worn by emperors or highrank officials).

This is the official, formal outer garment worn by royalty, high-ranking officials, generals and nobility. A mang is usually of bright, yellow brocade, embroidered with a dragon on the front and a wave-pattern at the hem.

There are a lot of famous characters wearing mang in ancient Chinese history. For example, the general Guan Yu from the Kingdom of Shu, the young commander-in-chief Zhou Yu from the Kingdom of Wu, princess Sun Shangxiang from the Kingdom of Wu, as well as She Taijun of the famous Yang family of the Song Dynasty.