Daoist Gown (China)

Daoist gown, embroidered with the images of 350 deities and immortals. China, (late) 17th century. Daoist gown, embroidered with the images of 350 deities and immortals. China, (late) 17th century. Courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum, acc. no. T.91-1928.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London houses a Daoist gown from China, dating to the seventeenth century. It is made of silk satin, and decorated with silk and gold threads. The gown is square in shape, without sleeves, and with a hole for the head.

The decoration shows the Daoist heaven with the images of 350 deities of the Daoist pantheon. A wide border includes the images of Daoist saints. The gown is 127 cm high and 214 cm wide. The gown was worn by a Daoist priest, who, by holding up his arms, would show the full extent of the garment's decoration.

V&A online catalogue (retrieved 20 December 2016).

WV

Last modified on Monday, 02 January 2017 18:23
Published in Religious vestments and other textiles
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