Mangfu (Chinese: 蟒服; pinyin: mǎngfú; lit. Chinese: 花衣; pinyin: Huāyī; lit. Chinese: 蟒袍; pinyin: mǎngpáo; lit. The mangfu falls under the broad category of mangyi (Chinese: 蟒衣; pinyin: mǎngyī; lit. English, is a type of paofu, a robe, in hanfu. The mangfu was characterized by the use of a python embroidery called mang (Chinese: 蟒; pinyin: mǎng; lit. English dictionary but a four-clawed Chinese dragon-like creature. The mangfu was derived from the longpao (simplified Chinese: 龙袍; traditional Chinese: 龍袍; pinyin: lóngpáo; lit. Emperor is allowed to wear the long, five-clawed dragon, while his subjects wear mang. 18,20 The mangfu was worn in the Ming and Qing dynasties. They had special status among the Chinese court clothing as they were only second to the longpao. 204 Moreover, their use were restricted, and they were part of a special category of clothing known as cifu (simplified Chinese: 赐服; traditional Chinese: 賜服; pinyin: cìfú; lit. 18,20 People who were bestowed with mangfu could not exchange it with or gifted it to other people. They were worn by members of the imperial family below of crown prince, by military and civil officials, and by Official wives. 18,20 As an official clothing, the mangfu were worn by officials during celebration occasions and ceremonial events. Chinese Emperor (or by the Empress Dowager on the behalf of the Emperor) in the Ming and Qing dynasties, becoming “a sign of imperial favour”. 18,20 They could also be bestowed by the Emperor to people who performed extraordinary services to the empire as rewards, to the members of the Grand Secretariat and to prominent Daoist patriarchs, imperial physicians, tributary countries and local chiefs whose loyalty were considered crucial to secure the borders. 300 In Beijing opera, the mangfu used as xifu is known as Mang. A man wearing long pattern design. In ancient China, there is a clear difference between monarchs and subjects; therefore, the Emperor wears the long, Chinese dragon patterns, on their clothing called longpao (龙袍; 龍袍; lóngpáo; ‘dragon robe’) while the officials, being the subjects of the Emperor, horse-faced skirt wear the mang (蟒; mǎng; ‘python’). The mangfu is also used as a form of xifu, theatrical costume, in Chinese opera, where it is typically found in the form of a round-necked robe, known as yuanlingpao. 5-clawed Chinese dragon pattern.
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