Ancient emperors, their clothes were printed with dragons with five claws, while the princes' clothes with four claws were what

It is a python.

Python, shaped like a dragon but less claws, so there are "five dragons and four pythons" said. Generally embroidered with gold thread on the clothes. The beginning of the Ming Dynasty was limited to the emperor around the eunuchs and favored trusted people served.

To the Qing Dynasty, "python clothes" are listed as "auspicious clothes", all civil and military officials, are lined with a complementary lab coat to wear. Clothes on the python pattern and the dragon pattern is similar, only less a claw (toe)", so, the four-clawed dragon called "python", so the name is "python clothes".

The "python" in the costume of the opera is the "python" on the basis of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, after decoration and beautification of the formation.

Expanded:

The python robe is the most commonly used dress for civil and military officials, and is named for the python text embroidered on the robe. Regarding the difference between python and dragon, there has never been a clear answer.

Generally according to the "wild access to edit" "python clothes for the elephant dragon clothes, and the supreme (i.e., the emperor) by the imperial (dragon) robes similar, but minus a claw (toe)".

To the Qing Dynasty, despite the name of the dragon, python divided very clearly, but in the reflection of the image is often consistent. High status officials can still wear "five claws (toes)" of the python "and some of the noble relatives to the special reward can also wear" four claws (toes) "of the dragon".

As for, when is the dragon, when is the python. Mainly in the social hierarchy at that time is relatively strict, the dragon is regarded as the embodiment of the emperor, in addition to the emperor and the relatives, others may not "unauthorized use", so the same is a five-clawed (toes) "dragon robe, for the emperor's can be called the dragon robe, and used for the ordinary officials, can only be called python robe.

In color, only the royal family can be available in yellow, gold and apricot yellow. Ordinary people are usually blue and stone green.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Python Robe

Baidu Encyclopedia - Python Robe