This handmade shadow play puppet is made out of cow hide featuring an emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1616~1911) with a long plait, which is the only allowed hair style for the Chinese male living during that time.  He wears graceful and gorgeous dragon robe.  Dragon is an incredible holy monster in Chinese culture, which represents the power of Heaven.

This robe is not only adorned with dragon patterns, but also with ocean, fire flame and clouds. The pattern of tiger is decorated on cap of the emperor standing for the stateliness of the emperor.  In the ancient China, nobody was allowed to wear dragon pattern except the emperors.