Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Portraits Volume 7, Folio 11

Portrait of Zhen Xiyuan

A woodcut portrait depicts a man identified as Zhen Xiyuan. He wears a traditional scholar-official cap featuring a curved ornament on top and feathers tucked into the side. He has a mustache and a long, thin goatee. He is dressed in robes with wide sleeves and holds a ritual tablet, or hu, with both hands in front of his chest. The hu was used by officials during imperial audiences to record notes or instructions.

Zhen Xiyuan original: 眞希元 is the courtesy name of Zhen Dexiu, who lived from 1178 to 1235. He was a famous statesman and philosopher of the Southern Song Dynasty. He was highly influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism and was a dedicated follower of the teachings of Zhu Xi.