Song Dynasty Empress 宋皇后翟衣

Music: Song of Seven Children 《七子之歌》 in Song instruments

A Song dynasty Empress in 翟衣 ceremonial attire called "Di Yi." These ostentatious robes were worn during state and ancestral ceremonies, as well as during seating for the imperial portraits.

During the conservative Song dynasty, women's clothing, especially that of noble and imperial women became very ostentatious. Often the elite women were heavily made up and their hairs were adorned with heavy and elaborate jewelry. The crowns they wore were very elaborate, with many of them often depicting dazzling carvings of immortals, dragons, and spectral clouds.

Wreathed in symbols: the Song empress's "Di Yi" or imperial robes 翟衣 are interwoven with pairs of birds, which symbolizes marital felicity and devotion. Flying dragons ran across the hems of her sleeves. Bright plum flowers also dots the blue fields of her dress. 

The imperial dress of Empress Xiang of Song dynasty. She acted as regent to the Song and presided the court before the accession of Emperor Huizong of Song. Huizong's ruinous tenure eventually led to the 1127 disaster at Kaifeng where the Song imperial family were abducted by the Jurchen conquerors of the Jin dynasty (Jingkang Incident) 

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Close up of the same dress worn by Empress Xiang.

Empress Wu (Song dynasty)- Empress Xiansheng. She was the wife of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty. Gaozong was remarkable in being the 1st emperor of the Southern Song. His ancestors and distant relatives were defeated and captured by the nomadic Jurchens when the Song imperial capital of Kaifeng was sacked in 1127 (Jingkang Incident.) Gaozong was able to barely escape capture and re-found the Song dynasty in the south. Note the same persistent designs in her attire, also the elaborate designs on her crown.

Another portrait of a Song dynasty empress that prominently displays the dizzying

designs on her crown- which combines a procession of immortals and saints, 

floating apsaras (Buddhist angels) floating clouds of flowers all amalgamating

into a fierce prismatic dragon.

Enduring design: Early Ming dynasty empress's fashion. Even during the

early Ming dynasty, the empress's dress still mostly retained these elements

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