The Chaoxue (court boots) 朝靴

Chaoxue (court boots) are a type of shoes worn by high priests, preachers, and altar supervisors during large-scale Taoist fasting and sacrificial ceremonies. They have thick, hard white-painted soles, high black uppers that reach the calves.

Court boots have a long history. Notes on Chinese Ancient and Modern Things states: "Boots originated from ancient Western styles. In the past, King Wuling of Zhao often wore them; they had short legs made of yellow leather and were casual wear. Later, Ma Zhou redesigned them with longer legs, added felt and straps, allowing wearers to enter palace halls for reports and making riding more convenient. All civil and military officials then wore them."

The use of court boots in Taoist fasting rituals probably began after the Song and Yuan dynasties. The Ming Dynasty's Zhu Quan in The Supreme Jade Manual of the Heavenly Emperor's Ultimate Tao wrote: "The round-toed, wide-soled design was called boots in ancient times. Those who come from filthy places must not enter the hall wearing them. For they are used in the human world and are unsuitable in mountains."