Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume 17 (1609) - Page 1

# Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms original: "三才圖會" (Sancai Tuhui). The "Three Realms" or "Three Potencies" (Sancai) refer to the fundamental triad of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, which together encompass the entirety of the cosmos in traditional Chinese philosophy.

This title appears on a calligraphic slip mounted upon a dark blue silk-textured cover, typical of the traditional thread-bound style (xianzhuang) of bookmaking.

Compiled by the scholar Wang Qi (1529–1612) and his son Wang Siyi, this monumental work was first published around 1609. As an "illustrated compendium," it served as a visual gateway to all known knowledge of the era, ranging from celestial maps and geographical charts to depictions of foreign peoples, botanical species, and historical figures.