The Manchu imperial court (1621-83) is located in the north, while a merchant welcomes trade with Europeans, an economic activity located in the south of China. Note how the official watches over the activity, and note also the depiction of the European galleon, emblematic of the period. The emperor's garrisons (banners) are spaced throughout the rest of the kingdom, to maintain order within the empire and to keep invaders at bay, as we see with the banner in the north. Throughout the kingdom, peasants toil and pay taxes to the civic authorities.

The emperor and his banners are depicted in the dress of a Manchu, distinguishing them from the Chinese officials. This reflects the Manchu policy of separating the civic functions of the empire, carried out by Chinese officials, from the military functions, performed by the Manchus, as evidenced by the latter's shields and swords. Notably, the emperor is not seated upon a throne; he is depicted as a military figure more than as the Son of Heaven. Within his court are Chinese scholars as well as Jesuits, who bring Western science and technology in addition to a new religion. The scholars, however, sit at opposite sides of the emperor; unlike the merchant who welcomes trade in European goods with open arms, the Chinese scholars seem at best disinterested in the Jesuit's intellectual goods. The dark lines connecting all these various activities to the imperial court suggests order and control over the whole of the empire.