花衣期是清代官场一项重要的礼仪制度,即规定官员在若干庆典期间应穿着花衣(蟒袍)。平时实施这一制度的庆典有元旦、上元节与万寿节,其中后者规格最高,变数最多,而且最能体现皇权专制的特性。万寿节花衣期的时间一般为正日及前后各三日,在若干整寿之年会加以延长,有时也会缩短。时间最长的是慈禧太后的六十、七十大寿,长达一个月。万寿节花衣期的长与短,在某种意义上也可以看作是体现统治者性格的晴雨表。花衣期(尤其是万寿节花衣期)内,有各种成文或不成文的禁忌,甚至呈现出“涟漪效应”。这样的禁忌促使官员尽量避免在此期间上奏,令这一制度具有特殊的政治意义。 Costumes are an important etiquette of the officialdom in the Qing Dynasty. They stipulated that officials should wear flower clothing (Python robe) during certain ceremonies. The celebration of the implementation of this system usually have New Year’s Day, the Spring Festival and Longevity Festival, the latter the highest specifications, the most variables, and most can reflect the imperialist autocratic character. Longevity flowers and longevity days are generally three days before and after, in a number of annual life will be extended, and sometimes will be shortened. The longest time is the 60th and 70th birthday of the Empress Dowager Cixi for a month. Longevity flower period Lanshou, in a sense can also be seen as a barometer of the character of rulers. There are various forms of written or unwritten taboos and even a “ripple effect” in the flowering period (especially the flower stage of Longevity). Such taboos urge officials to try to avoid going on during this period, giving the system a special political significance.