The Empress Robe At Ancient Hue

The Empress's Robe

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Originated as a modified version of the Fei-Peng robe from the Ming Dynasty in China, adapted and refined by the Nguyễn Dynasty to suit the aesthetics and ceremonial traditions of the Vietnamese imperial court.

Nhật Bình, the noble traditional attire of the Nguyễn Dynasty, clearly demarcated colors for each rank, with yellow exclusively reserved for the King and Queen. Creating the golden thread was an elaborate process. The thread was coated with lacquer, then passed through gold powder to adhere, forming the golden thread used for embroidering decorative details on courtly attire. Even after a hundred years, its golden sheen remains undiminished. Later áo dài (traditional long tunics) employed the technique of wrapping gold thread to create metallic thread. Reconstructing one áo Nhật Bình took an entire year to complete. The intricate fire-cloud and phoenix motifs were meticulously hand-embroidered, a skill possessed only by artisans within the imperial palace. These motifs were not merely decorative; each symbol carried deep meaning, representing prosperity, virtue, and the harmony of the universe, reflecting the spiritual and cultural values of the imperial court.
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On the Empress Robe, 20 embroidered motifs depict dragons, phoenixes, mythical pheasants (trĩ), and loạn (loan).

Accompanying accessories include:

• Nine-Dragon Gold Ornaments (Cửu Long Kim ước phát): 2 pieces
• Nine-Phoenix Gold Ornament (Cửu Phượng Kim ước phát): 1 piece
• Phoenix Hairpins (Trâm Phượng): 8 pieces
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All are crafted in gold.

For lower ranks, such as princesses and imperial concubines, the number of dragons or Phoenix on each ornament is fewer, reflecting the hierarchy and status within the imperial court.

Picture Below : The Queen's Nhat Binh at our Kim Long Dining

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