A young weaver in twelfth-century China saves her people from drought and foreign invasion by weaving the imperial dragon's robe.

This beautifully illustrated volume introduces a little-known but outstanding collection of Asian textiles in the Spencer Museum of Art at teh University of Kansas.

This is a long-awaited reprint of the major work first published in 1952. China's Dragon Robes is a scholarly survey of the dragon-patterned robes worn by nobles and officials in China during the later dynasties. Intended as a source book on a major phase of Chinese costume, it is based on translations from many Chinese sources and on the author's personal studies of exisiting examples of dragon robes in the USA and in China.The thoroughly decoumented and annotated text, supplemented by carefully chosen illustrations, offers museum curators, historians, and students of Oriental Art a basic discussion of an important, but hitherto neglected chapter in China's cultural history.

All About Chinese Dragons attempts to foster a wider understanding about the Chinese dragon and the many forms it took, in art, legend, and folklore. It is dedicated to the dragon, and its many offshoots and variations, and gives not only details of what a Chinese dragon was, where it was used, and what it was called, but also a few of the hundreds of legends about it that have arisen. The reader will become more acquainted with the dragon, and will gain a greater understanding of this magnificent beast. This book will interest and please the serious student and the enthusiastic tourist alike.

Art takes many forms. In this selection of Asian court attire, dating from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the phrase "you are what you wear" resonates. Vollmer journeys back to the thirteenth-century Chinese Empire, where ancestors of the ruling Manchu conquerors dressed fittingly. These exquisite costumes remind us that royalty once set fashion standards the way that celebrities do today, but that these garments also promoted distinct national and political messages that helped keep a ruling minority in power for nearly three centuries. Dressed to Rule is a guide to the exhibit, of the same name, that appeared at the University of Alberta in 2007.

Featuring over 450 archival photographs and line drawings, Chinese Dress traces the evolution of Chinese clothing from court and formal costumes to the fashions of modern China. A comprehensive and sumptuously illustrated book, Chinese Dress is the essential reference for costume historians, fashion designers and collectors, as well as lovers of beautiful clothes everywhere. Chapters include: Dress of the Qing Manchu Rulers 1644-1911 Dress of the Manchu Consorts 1644-1911 Attire of Mandarins and Merchants Attire of Chinese Women Republican Dress 1912-1949 Clothing of the Lower Classes Clothing for Children Dress in New China 1950-2006 From Imperial robes to foot binding to the cheongsam, Chinese Dress spotlights traditional Chinese dress against a background of historical, cultural and social change, opening a fascinating window for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of China, Chinese culture and Chinese fashion history.

Chinese dragon robes are among the most exquisite garments ever produced. With this fully illustrated guide, textile scholar and collector Valery M Garrett provides an introduction to the development, construction, and dating of dragon robes. This comprehensive book answers most every question on the subject of dragon robes and is perfect for the beginning collector and anyone interested in costume design.