The Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

original title: "三才圖會" (Sancai Tuhui)

This volume is a classic example of a Ming Dynasty encyclopedia Specifically a "leishu" or reference work that categorizes knowledge into various sections.. The title, Sancai Tuhui Literally: "The Three Realms Collected Illustrations.", refers to the three fundamental components of the universe in traditional Chinese philosophy: Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.

The physical presentation of this book follows the traditional "thread-bound" style. A dark blue cover protects the pages, featuring a white vertical title strip pasted on the left side. The characters are written in a clear, formal Regular Script Known as Kaishu, this is the standard, most legible style of Chinese calligraphy.. The volume is held together by a white binding thread using a four-hole stitching pattern, a hallmark of Chinese bookmaking that allowed for durability and ease of handling.