QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

Jifu is worn by the Emperor, all members of the imperial family, as well as officials and their wives for festive occasions including banquets, Winter Solstice, first day of the New Year, birthdays, some sacrificial rituals and military affairs. They are characterised by a round collar, horseshoe-shaped cuffs, right-buttoned front, narrow sleeves, front and back slits as well as side slits. The colour of jifu for the Imperial Heir-Apparent is apricot yellow. The jifu of an Emperor and Imperial Heir Apparent has dragons as the insignia, and thus are also known as longpao, or dragon robes.