The emperor was said to be the incarnation of a dragon, and dragons could be depicted only on the robes and articles of the emperor himself or on the ceilings and roofs of palaces and temples.
此外，人們又認為皇帝是龍的化身，龍自然成為吉祥尊貴的象徵；也因此古時一般人不能隨便在衣飾器物上繪龍的圖形，只可用於天子的禮服（龍袍）、用具（如龍椅），及宮殿、寺廟的屋頂。