Zhang Liang (张良, d. 189 BCE) was an ambitious young man and was looking for opportunities to overturn the emperor at that time. He ran into a guru strategist Lord Yellowstone (黄石公 Huang Shigong) by the Yi Bridge 圯桥, where Lord Yellowstone tested Zhang three times for his humility and perseverance before taking him as his protégé. (see Zhang Liang Fetching Shoe on Yi Bridge)

Lord Yellowstone was impressed by Zhang eventually, and willingly passed on his books and taught Zhang the ancient wisdoms and art of war.

Later, Zhang helped the founder of the Han dynasty, Liu Bang (刘邦, d. 195 BCE), with the invincible strategies and became one of Liu’s top three lieutenants.

The figural scenes here are depicting Zhang Liang receiving or reading the book given by Lord Yellowstone.

images on porcelain: first deciphered by Yibin Ni

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Why is the scene of a man holding a shoe popular in Chinese antique artworks?

• Fig 1: porcelain brush holder with overglaze enamelled decoration, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Museum of China, Beijing

  Fig 2: porcelain vase with enamelled decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Shanghai Museum, China