Hanfu’s Fei Yu Fu—Unleash Your Epic Handsome Vibe!

If there’s one outfit that steals the show as the coolest in Hanfu, it’s hands-down the Fei Yu Fu!

1. What Makes Fei Yu Fu So Special?

Fei Yu Fu is a granted robe, a special honor. It’s not the only granted attire in the Ming Dynasty—within the granted robe system, the top-tier pattern is the python, followed by the flying fish, then the bullfighter and unicorn, giving us Python Robes, Fei Yu Fu, Bullfighter Robes, and Unicorn Robes. These don’t stick to one style—they could be patches on stately round-collar or straight robes, or embroidered on bold Yi Sa or Tie Li robes. Shapes vary wildly. The Yan Sheng Gong Mansion in Qufu, Shandong, holds many Ming granted robes, including python and bullfighter round-collar versions, but the famous one is that amber Fei Yu Fu.

What makes a robe a “Fei Yu Fu” isn’t its cut—it’s all about the pattern.

2. The Origins of the Flying Fish Pattern

The “flying fish” comes from ancient Indian mythology’s Makara, also mentioned in Shan Hai Jing · Overseas West: “The dragon fish lives north, shaped like a civet (or a one-horned carp-like dragon).” Named for its flight, though Ming Fei Yu Fu barely shows Makara vibes.

If you don’t line up Python Robes, Fei Yu Fu, and Bullfighter Robes for a close look, it’s tough to tell them apart—once “Ming-ified,” these mythical beasts all morph toward dragon looks.

3. Python Robes: The Top-Tier Honor

Take the Python Robe, the top-tier grant for meritorious officials, even foreign kings and tribal leaders. Officials often wore them for portraits—like Kong Hongxu, the 61st Yan Sheng Gong at age eight, rocking a Python Robe that, frankly, looks like a dragon. Yep, the python on these robes mirrors the emperor’s five-clawed dragon, differing only with four claws. Even that tiny gap sparked drama.

By late Ming, Python Robes got handed out like candy—big shots like Zhang Juzheng and Xu Jie scored rare seated Python Robes, nearly identical to imperial dragon robes, full frontal designs. Once reserved for the ultra-favored, late Ming emperors overdid it, flooding the scene with seated Pythons.

4. How Flying Fish Evolved into a Dragon Look

Since pythons could grow horns and turn dragon, the dragon-like flying fish followed suit, sprouting two horns while its wings faded away. Without the fish tail, you’d struggle to ID it as fish, python, or dragon.

Python Robes went to first-rank officials, Fei Yu Fu to second-rank, but their likeness even fooled emperors. In 1537 (Jiajing 16), during a spring mountain ritual, Emperor Shizong mistook Soldier Minister Zhang Zan’s Fei Yu Fu for a Python Robe, annoyed, asking scholar Xia Yan, “A second-rank minister wearing a Python?” Xia clarified, “It’s a granted Fei Yu Fu, just similar to a python.” Unimpressed, Shizong snapped, “Why’s the flying fish got two horns? Ban it!” Rebuked, the Ministry of Rites ruled no official could flaunt Python, Fei Yu, or Bullfighter robes without permission.

5. Other Granted Robes and Restrictions

Yet, Jin Yi Wei commanders and guards could wear Unicorn Robes, with exceptions: ex-guards still on commander pay or low-rank guards like Jin Yi Wei thousand- or hundred-households couldn’t claim them.

Bullfighter and Unicorn Robes rank below Fei Yu Fu—third-rank got Bullfighters, fourth- and fifth-rank got Unicorns. Bullfighter patterns echo pythons with fish tails and downward-curved horns, while even distinct Unicorn Robes carry dragon hints.

6. Fei Yu Fu as a Jin Yi Wei Icon

Still, Fei Yu Fu and Unicorn Robes doubled as Jin Yi Wei trademarks.

Beyond intel and patrols, Jin Yi Wei “served the emperor directly” and acted as ceremonial guards, earning looser dress codes. Think “Great Han Generals” in armor with gold maces—not real generals, just armored ceremonial troops.

During imperial rites like inspecting livestock, sunrise/sunset prayers, or ancestor worship, Jin Yi Wei chiefs could don red Python Robes or Fei Yu Fu, topped with black hats and embroidered spring knives, while “thousand- and hundred-households” wore green embroidered gear.

Even Jin Yi Wei commanders, mere third-rank, rocked Python or Fei Yu Fu—Jiajing’s dress code crackdown spared them, letting guards wear Unicorn Robes.

From this, it’s no surprise later folks mistook Fei Yu Fu as Jin Yi Wei’s official uniform.