As we know, in ancient China, the clothes of the emperors were embroidered with the pattern of Chinese dragon. So far, it has had a history of nearly three thousand years. As early as in Zhou Dynasty, the dresses with the pattern of dragon with the head up called Sheng Long as well as the clothes with the pattern of dragon with head down named Xiang Long appeared. However, the pattern of dragon at that time was only embroidered in clothes and was not called Long Pao, but Long Yi.

After Qin and Han Dynasties, even though the emperors wore the connected robe in leisure time, there was no pattern of dragon on it, but only marked it with the yellow color. When it came to the period of Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the pattern of dragon appeared. It happened in Qing Dynasty that regarded Long Pao as the exclusive use name of officially and listed into the dress system. In Qing Dynasty, the main color of dragon robe was yellow and was embroidered with the golden dragon and colorful cloud. During the patterns of dragon and cloud, you can also see the twelve patterns were distributed.

It has formed into a very important content in Chinese culture. According to the etiquette rules in Qing Dynasty, the dragon robe of the emperor belongs to a kind of auspicious costume which could be worn only in the ordinary celebrating ceremonies or activities. If there was important person came for emperor about the important issues, the emperors should not wear the dragon robe, but the court dress that higher than the dragon robe.

In accordance with the records in history books, the dragon robe at that time was embroidered with nine dragons. However, only eight dragons can be found in the real robe and the pictures, being embroidered in the front chest, the back, the front knees and the behind places as well as two shoulders. There are only eight dragons. Some people said the left one dragon is the emperor.

As a matter of fact, those foreigners who attend to Chinese school in China should know the left one dragon pattern is embroidered in the inner part of the front of the garment which is not east to be seen. The reason is that the number nine stands for the noblest emperor while nine is an odd number and it is difficult to make it symmetrical in costume.