Read the following selection from the section "social class, clothing and adornments."

sometimes mothers sewed images of toads or snakes onto clothing along with the tiger to add more protection against danger. this practice spread to the upper classes where dragons and tigers were embroidered on silk gowns for the same purpose. in the sui dynasty (589-618 a. the emperor decreed that there was too much similarity between what the peasants and the upper classes wore (even though the wealthy nobles were still the only ones who could wear silk) and passed a law that all peasants had to wear either blue or black clothing; only the wealthy were allowed to wear colors.

which of the following conclusions can best be drawn from the selection above, given the context of the rest of the article?

a
the emperor felt compelled to make class divisions stronger and more visible in order to maintain the social order and his power over it.
b
because the practice of sewing protective images on clothing was originally associated with the lower class, the emperor probably later curtailed the practice among the upper class.
c
after the upper and lower classes began to look too much alike, the emperor banned colors among the peasants in order to punish and frighten them into submission.
d
the emperor decreed that lower classes were not allowed to wear colors because he believed they would try to sneak into establishments meant only for the wealthy.