In Chinese culture, the dragon represents power. Therefore, it was associated with Chinese emperors as early as the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-256 B.C.) when emperors began to wear robes with the figures of dragon. However, they were named as dragon robes until the Qing Dynasty.

The figure nine and five was associated with the dignity of throne in ancient China. Therefore, a dragon robe is embroidered with nine yellow dragons, on the front, the back, before or behind knees, shoulders and lining of the chest. The upper class were permitted to wear the robes decorated with three, four or five clawed dragons according to their ranks.

The end of the Qing Dynasty brings an end to the dragon robes. Fortunately, we still can appreciate them in some museums now, having a glimpse of the supreme dressmaking technique in ancient China.