A painted clay figure, Ming Dynasty, 54 cm high and 30 cm wide. © The Palace Museum,Beijing

This figure depicts an elderly man wearing a tall crown, with a kind face, bright eyes, large drooping ears, and a neatly combed beard on his cheeks and lips. He wears a long, wide-sleeved robe with a right-fastening front, embroidered with patterns, and a rope tied at his waist in a knot at his chest. He sits on a stool with his hands resting on his right knee. The robe hangs down, covering the insteps of his feet, revealing only his toes. (Wang Quanli)