Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix"

Pang Tong, 'Young Phoenix' was released in 1999 as part of the Portal Three Kingdoms expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set was specifically designed to introduce the game to the Asian market by adapting the 14th-century Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms into the existing card game mechanics. It was produced with simplified rules to appeal to new players while featuring art and thematic elements centered on the legendary figures of the era.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Xu Ming, who utilized a traditional East Asian aesthetic style to capture the likeness of the famed strategist. Pang Tong is depicted as a pivotal advisor to Liu Bei, and the design aimed to reflect his reputation for brilliance and tactical foresight. Upon its release, the set was noted for its unique thematic departure from the typical Western high-fantasy tropes found in standard Magic sets, though it remained a niche product until its scarcity later increased its prominence among secondary market collectors.