Portrait of Emperor Taizu of the Later Liang

Emperor Taizu (reigned 907–912 CE), born Zhu Wen, was the founder of the Later Liang dynasty. His rise to power marked the definitive end of the Tang Dynasty and the beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, a time of significant political fragmentation in China.

Iconography and Style
The illustration is a traditional woodcut portrait, a style commonly used in Ming dynasty encyclopedias to provide readers with a visual reference for historical figures. The Emperor is depicted in formal attire, characterized by:

• The Headgear: He wears a traditional scholar-official's cap putou; a black cloth hat originally worn by commoners that evolved into formal court headwear with stiffened "wings".
• The Robes: His clothing consists of wide-sleeved imperial robes, signifying his status as the Son of Heaven, despite his origins as a rebel soldier.
• The Depiction: Following the conventions of ancestral portraiture, the features are stylized to convey dignity and authority rather than providing a strict photographic likeness.

Historical records often describe Zhu Wen as a brutal and pragmatic leader. However, in this collection, he is presented with the standard iconography of a legitimate sovereign, reflecting the book's purpose as a comprehensive record of recognized dynastic transitions.