Daoist priest robe, satin-weave silk, embroidery in silk and metallic threads, China, Qing dynasty, 1800-1900

Daoist priest robe of dark blue satin-weave silk, with scarlet satin borders and sleeve bands; embroidered with coloured silks and gold thread. Probably worn when attending worship at a Daoist temple.
On the back is the yin-yang symbol, the creative monad, enveloped in rays. On other parts of the garment are the eight trigrams within medallions strewn with fruit, flowers, and Daoist symbols. The intervals are filled with flying cranes, bats and scrolled clouds. The borders are embroidered with flower-baskets, bats, ruyi sceptres and floral stems.

Purchased from Mr. P. Kierulff (Villa Peking, Hellerup, Denmark), accessioned in 1901. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Purchased. Registered File number 31783/191.

Note on register:
A dark satin cloak with scarlet borders and sleeve bands gorgeously embroidered in bright colours and gold.
The large golden disc on the back enveloped in blue rays is the yin and yang symbol. The creative monad with its two nuclei of ancient Chinese philosophy, the eight trigrams being displayed within medallions strewn with fruit, flowers and symbols of Daoist character, on other parts of the garment. The intervals are filled in with scrolled clouds and flying storks carrying flowers in their beaks. The red borders are embroidered with flower baskets, bats, ruyi sceptres and other symbols. Such a coat would be appropriately worn when attending worship at a Daoist temple in olden time, and it may have figured as the costume of some Boxer chieftain, as they are described in narratives of the siege of the Legations at Beijing as clothed in cloaks of this nature. It was perhaps originally an imperial cloak. The satin being woven with the brand of the Treasury manufactory.

This robe was worn by a Daoist priest in China in the 19th century. Daoism, China's native religion, is experiencing a revival today. Many different styles of vestments are worn for the rituals. The central yin-yang symbol (yang and yin is a dynamic, complementary conceptual system that governs everything) surrounded by the Eight Trigrams, as on this garment, continue to be favoured as decoration.

1620-1901