Twelve symbol dragon robe, embroidered yellow and blue ground. Blue silk ground embroidered yellow silk of a design of endless swastikas. Scattered all-over this surface are cloud-forms and the twelve symbols. Five-clawed dragons back and front and on the shoulders. Sea, earth and rocks round lower edge, and sleeves. Fastening at the side, the skirt is slit for about 2 feet up the centre at front and back. Sleeves shaped. Cuffs embroidered with same design. Three-quarters of sleeve is of dark blue silk, having single stripes of gold thread embroidery. Round the cuffs and round the neck are bands of gold and black brocade.
Colours: blues, pink, green, white, yellow, red, brown and gold thread.
Stitches: mainly couched work and satin stitch
Lining: bright blue satin- new on body
The sleeves have a damask pattern of flower roundels. Sleeves have been altered, cut and rejoined.
The robe may indeed never have been worn by an emperor, and the robe seems to be rather carelessly tailored.