Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Humans, Volume 12, Part 1

Page 71

The woodcut portrays a nomadic rider representing the Sari Uighur people. He wears a distinctive tall, plumed hat and a heavy, patterned robe with a fur collar, suited for the cold climates of the high plains. He is equipped for warfare or hunting, carrying a composite bow in a case and a quiver filled with arrows. The horse is shown in a steady gait with ornate tack, reflecting the importance of equestrian culture to this group.

The Sari Uighurs are similar to the Tatars on their northern border; the journey to Yingtian Prefecture takes three months.

The Sari Uighurs original: 撒里畏 (Sǎlǐwèi). Also known as the "Yellow Uighurs" or Shira Yughur, these were a Turkic-Mongolic group residing in the Gansu region. During the Ming dynasty, they served as an important buffer and trade partner along the Silk Road. are located in a region where, to their north original: 北邊 (běibiān), their customs and appearance are similar original: 似 (sì) to those of the Tatars original: 韃靼 (Dádá). A general term used by the Ming to describe the nomadic Mongolic peoples of the northern steppes.. To reach Yingtian Prefecture original: 應天府. The administrative name for Nanjing, which served as the capital during the early Ming dynasty and remained a vital center for receiving foreign missions., the journey takes three months original: 行三個月 (xíng sān gè yuè). This shorter duration compared to the previous entry for Herat reflects their closer proximity to the Chinese border..