The first emperor wearing a yellow robe was not Zhao Kuangyin, but Tang Gaozu.

Speaking of "wearing a yellow robe", many people will think of the mutiny in Chen Qiao, Zhao Kuangyin, Song Taizu in 1960, a carefully planned coup, and the yellow robe symbolizing imperial power, which made Zhao Kuangyin become the founding emperor of Dasong from the late Zhou Dynasty in our time. This yellow robe was prepared in advance, and Zhao Kuangyin's action was obviously to imitate the clothes of the former emperor. Therefore, although Zhao Kuangyin is the prototype of the allusion of "wearing a yellow robe", he is not the first emperor of "wearing a yellow robe".

The first emperor in China's history to wear a yellow robe was Tang Gaozu Li Yuan. Wang Meng's "Wild Man Series Banned Yellow" said: "At the beginning of Wude, Tang Gaozu, the emperor adopted the Sui system, and the emperor always wore yellow robes. The court officials could not ban yellow." So, why does Li Yuan like to wear a yellow robe? During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, imperial robes prevailed, and Li Yuan, who was wearing a war robe, became the emperor, more powerful and magnificent. The most important thing is to follow the theory of "the beginning of five virtues" and find the ruling foundation for the Tang Dynasty.

"The Beginning of Five Virtues" is a view of history advocated by Zou Yan, a Yin and Yang scholar in the Warring States Period. Zou Yan believed that different dynasties ruled alternately according to the order of earth, wood, gold, fire and water. The Tang and Yuan Dynasties were respected by the Tang Duke, and later the Tang Dynasty was established. Like Emperor Yao, it was named "Tang Yao" because it was sealed in the Tang Dynasty.

According to the theory of "the beginning of five virtues", Tang Yao belongs to "Heaven", while Li Yuan deliberately imitated Yao Di, so he carried out five behaviors of "Heaven" at that time, namely, wearing yellow clothes, Huang Guan and yellow robe.

Since Li Yuanshou put on the yellow robe, it has officially become a symbol of imperial power, also known as the "dragon robe". Tang Gaozong reiterated that "nothing is allowed to be yellow". After Zhao Kuangyin "added yellow robe", anyone was forbidden to wear yellow robe, otherwise it would be regarded as rebellion.

In the era of Song Renzong, it was also stipulated that ordinary people were not allowed to wear yellow robes or make patterns. Since then, not only the yellow robe is unique to the emperor, but also the yellow robe is dedicated to the emperor. This system was used by later generations until the end of Qing Dynasty.