Dragon robe and crown is a sort of costume worn by emperors on the most important occasions in ancient China. Dragon robe refers to the noble dress decorated with rolling dragons while dragon crown is the noble hat.
The dragon embroidered on the robe demonstrates the worship of dragon totem in ancient China, while the shape of the crown (slightly round front and square rear) contains the cultural content of "Round heaven and square earth". The exquisite and graceful dragon robes and crowns preserved in the Palace Museum are an embodiment of supreme dressmaking technique in ancient China. Moreover, they can reflect the aesthetic consciousness in traditional Chinese culture.
The emperor's words were considered sacred edicts (聖旨), (the Chinese words in the picture below) and his written proclamations "directives from above" (上諭). In theory, the emperor's orders were to be obeyed immediately.
"正大光明" (Chinese words below image) translates to "Open and aboveboard, Without concealment or deception" .... at least in theory ....
"聖旨" or " "directives from above" from the above which really means if you disobey the emperor's orders, you or even your family will be be-headed; and there are no avenues to say otherwise.
"正大光明" Open and aboveboard, Without concealment or deception.
To have these 2 words depicted together in the same room is really the biggest irony as where is "Openness and aboveboard" when Obeying the Emperor's orders are the ultimatum. Think of it like this, the entrance to the room says "Openness" "正大光明" which is very inviting but once you walk into and facing the emperor; it says obey me "聖旨".
Today, many societies claim the greatness of the philosophy of "孙子兵法" of "Sun Tzu's art of war" in its application even to the business world, which is all fine; and I myself have read the interprestations several times.
BUT, perhaps the business world have also learned something from this picture of "正大光明" and "聖旨"; as today all marketing products will have the "Great Packaging" in the "Outside" to persuade the customer BUT once you have purchased the product, you are somehow stuck with the "Ugly Truth" of what is Real "Inside" ....
If you think about it, isn't all POLITICS and POLITICIANS the SAME ....
Today, many societies claim the greatness of the philosophy of "孙子兵法" of "Sun Tzu's art of war" in its application even to the business world, which is all fine; and I myself have read the interprestations several times.
BUT, perhaps the business world have also learned something from this picture of "正大光明" and "聖旨"; as today all marketing products will have the "Great Packaging" in the "Outside" to persuade the customer BUT once you have purchased the product, you are somehow stuck with the "Ugly Truth" of what is Real "Inside" ....
If you think about it, isn't all POLITICS and POLITICIANS the SAME ....
On the lighter side of things, for less then $1.50 USD; you can get into an Emperor's robe like this and enjoy a few minutes of it here in a Chinese Restaurant in Melacca China Town.
