Portrait of Lü Shenggong

Lü Shenggong is the courtesy name of Lü Yijian (978–1048), a powerful Grand Councilor who served during the Northern Song Dynasty under Emperor Renzong.

This woodblock print portrait depicts the Chinese official Lü Shenggong. The figure is shown from the waist up, wearing a traditional scholar's cap with long, thin horizontal wings and flowing robes. He has a prominent mustache and a long, thin goatee. He holds a ceremonial tablet, called a hu original: "笏"; a tablet held by officials during audiences with the emperor to record notes or instructions, with both hands in front of his chest. The style is characteristic of Ming dynasty biographical illustrations.