False Mourning

False Mourning was released in 1999 as part of the Portal Three Kingdoms expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. This set was unique in its design, as it was specifically developed to introduce the game to the Asian market by drawing thematic and narrative inspiration from the 14th-century Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The set utilized a simplified ruleset to make the game more accessible to new players, though the mechanical simplicity of its cards often belies the strategic depth of the era's lore.

The card features artwork by Jian Guo, who contributed to the set's aesthetic by capturing the somber, period-specific tone of the historical narrative. The design philosophy of the card reflects the dark, thematic undertones of the source material, focusing on the concepts of loss and transition central to the epic. Upon its release, Portal Three Kingdoms was initially limited in distribution, which contributed to its status as a sought-after set among collectors for its distinct artistic direction and its direct adaptation of legendary Chinese history.