The Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Geography, Volume Twelve

Mount Sanfen... [of the] King...

original: "三分山... 王..." (Sanfen Shan... Wang...). This heading refers to Mount Sanfen, a prominent peak in the Jiuyi Mountains of Hunan Province. The fragmentary reference to "Wang" (King) likely relates to the "Sage King" Emperor Shun, who according to legend was buried in this mountain range. Mount Sanfen is noted in historical texts for its three distinct peaks that divide the regional waters.

Landscape (山水 - shanshui), Woodcut (木刻 - muke), Geography (輿地 - yudi)

The accompanying woodcut illustration—a fine example of Ming Dynasty "landscape" (shanshui) art—depicts the mountain's terrain with rounded peaks and rhythmic line-work. The image shows the peaks rising above a body of water with stylized waves, reflecting the mountain's role in the "geography" (yudi) of the region as a watershed. Sparse trees are placed along the rocky shores, a common aesthetic choice in "woodcut" (muke) prints of this era to signify the wild, sacred nature of the site.