ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the complex relationship between text and image in pulu writing about animals and plants. Pulu began to thrive as a genre in the twelfth century, a time when bibliographer and historian Zheng Qiao coined the notion of image (tu) and descriptive text (pu) as mutually supportive means for the packaging of knowledge. Pulu are categorised on the basis of their topics and, against this background, are often expected to be illustrated, although this is rarely the case. The chapter sets out to explore examples of non-illustrated and illustrated pulu and the circumstances and scholarly attitudes that led to their production. The chapter begins with brief probes into the history of the bibliographical classification of pu- and tu-type books and some reflections on the titles of works.
