Jacket Item Number: Edz1319 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
White jacket with dark blue embroidery. The jacket has a round neck, wide sleeves and centre opening with frog closures. On the front and back are phoenix, butterfly and bat motifs. On the sleeves are a dragon motif and a rinceau border. There is facing inside the neck. The rest of the inside is unlined.
Blue and white embroideries are part of an ancient domestic tradition. Designs vary geographically but are constant within generations of families except for minor individual variations. Often used to decorate the bed which traditionally played a focal part in household ritual particularly at the new year when all household spirits were honored. They are family made, by women, and family owned. These embroideries were of no local commercial value.
utilitarian;household
Phoenix; peace, prosperity. Butterfly; joy, conjugal felicity. Bat; happiness, longevity. Dragon; vigilance.