Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Humans

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The woodcut depicts an inhabitant or envoy from Herat. The figure is shown in profile, wearing a distinctive spotted fur cap and a long, heavy robe trimmed with fur at the collar and cuffs, indicating a climate much colder than that of southern China. He carries a long staff, a common attribute in Ming iconography for travelers or foreign delegates. The attire reflects the Ming perception of "Western Regions" (Xiyu) fashion.

Herat is very similar to the Kingdom of the Tatars; the journey to Yingtian Prefecture takes six months by horse.

Herat original: 哈烈 (Hǎliè). An important city-state in modern-day Afghanistan. During the Ming dynasty, particularly under the reign of the Yongle Emperor, Herat was a major partner in trade and diplomacy, known for its Timurid culture. is generally of the same kind as the Kingdom of the Tatars original: 韃靼 (Dádá). A general term used by the Ming to describe the nomadic Mongolic and Turkic peoples of the northern and western steppes.. To reach Yingtian Prefecture original: 應天府. The administrative name for Nanjing, the early capital of the Ming Dynasty and a major hub for receiving foreign tribute missions., it requires six months of travel by horse original: 馬行 (mǎ xíng). This indicates an overland route through the Hexi Corridor, rather than the maritime routes used by Zheng He's fleets..