"For tributes there are sketches; for objects there are records." This saying reflects two traditional Chinese approaches to getting to know peoples of foreign lands and different races. It means that the t'u (illustrations) was employed to picture the customs of exotic lands and foreign peoples, while the wen-tzu (writings) was to document the people and produce of these lands.

The making of illustrations of tribute missions has a long history. In the collections of the National Palace Museum there are four illustrated renditions that highlight Taiwan's aborigines, including the one painted by Hsieh Sui and those in the Ssu-k'u-ch'üan-shu (Complete Collection of the Four Treasuries), the Ssu-k'u-ch'uan-shu hui-yao (Selected Works from the Complete Collection of the Four Treasuries), and the Wu-ying-tien palace imprints. All four versions contain 13 illustrations of Taiwan's aborigines, each showing a man and a woman with handheld local specialties or special tools. The distribution, customs, skills, annual levies, etc., are addressed as well. These illustrations perfectly capture the images and unique customs of the aborigines in Feng-shan, Chu-luo, and Chang-hua counties and in Tamsui-t'ing sub-prefect.

The submitting of the illustrations on foreigners and aboriginals Copy of Memorial of Fukien and Chechiang Governor-General Karjišan and Fukien Governor Chen Hung-mo. The 26th of the 7th month in the seventeenth year of Chien-lung

Tributes to the Imperial Ch'ing Compiled by Fu Heng, et al.. Chih-tsau-tang Ssu-k'u-chuan-shu-hui-yao Edition Ch'ien-lung reign, Ch'ing dynasty

Illustration of Tribute Missions Hsieh Sui, Ch'ien-lung reign(1736-1795), Ch'ing Dynasty