Manchu Man's Semiformal Court Robe
Imperial rules dictated what a dragon robe could look like. Some of the symbols on the robe signaled what rank the wearer held. Other symbols were designed to bring good fortune to the wearer.
Dragons were believed to bring rain. Since China was mostly an agricultural economy, rain was incredibly important. Dragons were thus symbols of fertility and masculine vitality. The dragon also represented the emperor and, therefore, China. A dragon was believed to appear in the sky at the birth of the emperor.