Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) clothes belonging to Confucius' aristocratic descendants are among the best-preserved of the era and offer hints of lost textile arts. Zhao Ruixue reports in Jinan.

Despite being more than 500 years old, the silk garments worn by Yansheng dukes - Confucius' direct descendants, honored as nobility - are as well kept as when the aristocrats wore them to meet Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) emperors.

The best-preserved Ming clothing was discovered in two black cases in the Confucius Family Mansion in Qufu, Shandong province. There were about 100 garments. Of these, some 40 articles of Ming clothing and 50 pieces of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) clothing were donated to the Shandong Provincial Museum between 1954 and 1956.