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Dragon robes were lavish silk garments bestowed by the Chinese Emperor to the royalty of China's tributary states, most prominently [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû]] and Korea, as signs of their power and authority, and of their subordination and debt to the Chinese Emperor. Though records have been found indicating that robes were given on at least one occasion to a ruler in Java and even to a Sharif of Mecca, the robes seem to have only ever been worn or otherwise used in a symbolic and ceremonial way by the kings and aristocracy of Ryûkyû and Korea; the king of Ryûkyû only ever wore the robes when receiving Chinese ambassadors, however, and wore a royal costume in accordance with Ryukyuan native tradition for all other occasions<ref name=cammann>Cammann, Schuyler. ''China's Dragon Robes''. New York: The Ronald Press Co., 1952. pp157-159</ref>.

Dragon robes were lavish silk garments bestowed by the Chinese Emperor to the royalty of China's tributary states, most prominently [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû]] and Korea, as signs of their power and authority, and of their subordination and debt to the Chinese Emperor. Though records have been found indicating that robes were given on at least one occasion to a ruler in Java and even to a Sharif of Mecca, the robes seem to have only ever been worn or otherwise used in a symbolic and ceremonial way by the kings and aristocracy of Ryûkyû and Korea; the king of Ryûkyû only ever wore the robes when receiving Chinese ambassadors, however, and wore a royal costume in accordance with Ryukyuan native tradition for all other occasions<ref name=cammann>Cammann, Schuyler. ''China's Dragon Robes''. New York: The Ronald Press Co., 1952. pp157-159</ref>.

The robes were only produced in China, at the Imperial workshops at Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Shouzhou; their production in Ryûkyû, Korea, or elsewhere was forbidden by Chinese Imperial edict. After production, the robes would be brought to the Imperial capital for certification, and then to Ryûkyû, Korea, or another destination by [[Chinese investiture envoys|investiture envoys]], along with a golden & jeweled crown and belt, and other symbols of investiture. Robes were also sometimes obtained by Ryukyuan officials in Beijing.

The robes were only produced in China, at the Imperial workshops at Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Shouzhou; their production in Ryûkyû, Korea, or elsewhere was forbidden by Chinese Imperial edict. After production, the robes would be brought to the Imperial capital for certification, and then to Ryûkyû, Korea, or another destination by [[Chinese investiture envoys|investiture envoys]], along with a golden & jeweled crown and belt, and other symbols of [[investiture]]. Robes were also sometimes obtained by Ryukyuan officials in Beijing.

The right to wear dragon robes was enjoyed not only by the king of Ryûkyû, but by the entire royal family, and by certain high-ranking families of the aristocracy as well. Chinese robes were also, on rare occasions, given by the king of Ryûkyû as gifts to others; in [[1605]], King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] bestowed a dragon robe from his personal wardrobe upon a prominent Kyoto monk who was about to return to Japan after a three-year stay in Ryûkyû. This same robe has since come into the possession of a group who display it during [[Gion Matsuri]] every year.

The right to wear dragon robes was enjoyed not only by the king of Ryûkyû, but by the entire royal family, and by certain high-ranking families of the aristocracy as well. Chinese robes were also, on rare occasions, given by the king of Ryûkyû as gifts to others; in [[1605]], King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] bestowed a dragon robe from his personal wardrobe upon a prominent Kyoto monk who was about to return to Japan after a three-year stay in Ryûkyû. This same robe has since come into the possession of a group who display it during [[Gion Matsuri]] every year.