Portrait of Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou

original: "後周世宗" (Hou Zhou Shizong). This refers to Chai Rong (reigned 954–959 CE). He is widely celebrated by historians as the most brilliant and effective ruler of the Five Dynasties period. His military campaigns and administrative reforms laid the essential groundwork for the eventual unification of China under the subsequent Song Dynasty.

original: "人物" (renwu). Literally "people and things," this section of the encyclopedia focuses on historical figures, portraits, and biographies.

Visual Description
This woodcut illustration, sourced from the Ming-era encyclopedia Sancai Tuhui The "Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms," compiled by Wang Qi and Wang Siyi around 1609, depicts the Emperor in a style that emphasizes his legitimacy and imperial dignity.

• The Headgear: The Emperor is depicted wearing the traditional putou; a cap made of stiffened black gauze. Like his predecessor on the previous page, the cap features the characteristic long, horizontal "wings" or flaps. By the Ming dynasty, when this book was printed, this style of headwear had become a standard iconographic shorthand for high-ranking officials and emperors of earlier eras.
• The Countenance: He is shown with a full beard and a focused, dignified expression. In Chinese physiognomy, such features were intended to convey the "Mandate of Heaven"—the divine right to rule based on virtue and capability.
• The Robe: He wears a dark, round-collared robe. The simple but strong lines of the woodblock carving represent the stability and martial strength associated with his reign.

Historical Significance
Emperor Shizong (Chai Rong) is remembered for his "Great Enterprise" of reunifying China. He reclaimed significant territories from the Northern Han and the Liao Empire and reformed the military and the economy. His untimely death at the age of 38 is often cited by historians as a tragic turning point, as it led to the rise of his general, Zhao Kuangyin, who would eventually founded the Song Dynasty.