A photograph of a statue of an imposing, portly, powerfully built man, seated on an elaborate throne.

Statue of Emperor Yongle. Anonymous. Yongle Mausoleum, Beijing.

(Photo by Henry Tsai)

A portrait of a young woman wearing a richly brocaded robe and a tall, elaborate headdress.

Yongle’s wife, Empress Xu. Anonymous.

(Photo courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Taiwan)

A portrait of an older man with a white mustache wearing a black hat and an embroidered robe.

Yongle’s father, Emperor Hongwu. Anonymous.

(Photo courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Taiwan)

A portrait of an older woman wearing a small headdress and an embroidered robe.

Yongle’s mother, Empress Ma. Anonymous.

(Photo courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Taiwan)

Two portraits of women wearing richly brocaded clothes and tall, elaborate headdresses.

Ming palace ladies.

(Photo courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Taiwan)

A photograph of an immense complex of buildings behind a tall, fortress-like wall. The broad, central building is flanked by two smaller buildings, one on each side. Each building appears to be 2-3 stories tall with tiered roofs.

The Forbidden City, Beijing.

(Photo by Henry Tsai)

A photograph of a bridge built of five stone arches over a canal, with a high central arch and smaller ones on each side. A few small boats navigate the canal, while others line the shores. People cross the bridge on foot.

The Grand Canal in Wuxi, Jiangsu.

(Photo by Henry Tsai)

A photograph of a round, intricately carved, covered box, with a scene of three scholars talking in a garden on the lid, and foliage around the edges.

Yongle’s lacquer box.

(Photo courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Taiwan)

A photograph of a vase with a narrow neck and round body, elaborately painted with a large dragon along with smaller flames and flowers on a white background.

Yongle’s porcelain vase.

(Photo courtesy of the National Palace Museum of Taiwan)

A photograph of a stone statue of a sturdy, stern warrior, armored and helmeted, with a sword in one hand and a club in the other, and a glare in his eyes.

One of Yongle’s military officers. Yongle Mausoleum.

(Photo by Henry Tsai)

A photograph of a large stone statue of a camel.

A camel serving the deceased Emperor Yongle. Yongle Mausoleum.

(Photo by Henry Tsai)

A photograph of a gate made of five large, square stone arches, each topped with a tiered roof.

Marble gate leading to the Yongle Mausoleum.

(Photo by Henry Tsai)

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Footnotes