The Qing Dynasty was once the global hegemon and the pinnacle of the system, but it could not resist the impact of the West, and finally caused China to endure a century of humiliation.
During the Qing Dynasty, a red-faced man posed with his wife and concubine, showing a picture of a harmonious family. These wives and concubines are either young and delicate, or gentle and dignified, and from their makeup and clothing, they may be able to get a glimpse of the dignity of the wife and the beauty of the concubine. In this feudal society, to have such a harmonious and beautiful family, this man can be said to be proud of life, and his wisdom in handling family relationships must be extraordinary
During the Qing Dynasty, a military attache in Guangzhou dressed in civilian clothes took a warm photo with his wife and children. Mrs. Decree accompanied him, four children surrounded his knees, and the family of three sons and one daughter prospered. The military attache was smiling and happy
In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, a childish little girl squatted by the river, diligently scrubbing her clothes. As a child daughter-in-law, she shouldered the burden of the family early and tasted the ups and downs of life. In that old era, the child daughter-in-law was regarded as the future daughter-in-law of the in-laws, and was raised by the in-laws from a young age. However, behind this lies a disguised marriage of buying and selling, and their life path is full of twists and turns
Isabella · Bird captured the moment aboard the ship Veronica in Shantou, Guangdong. Although Shantou is located at the junction of Guangdong and Fujian, its residents are mainly of southern Fujian descent, which is unique
Under the harsh legal system of the Qing Dynasty, criminals often faced harsh punishments. In the picture, a sinner with his wrists tied and kneeling at the execution ground is held high by the executioner's butcher's knife, about to fall. The overseer watched coldly under the shed, while the surrounding crowd ignored him. The cruelty of beheading and beheading aroused widespread criticism in society, and it was not until the end of the Qing Dynasty that heavy punishment such as beheading was abolished, and the death penalty was limited to beheading
During the Qing Dynasty, a man in a shabby cotton coat stood by the roadside, carrying a bamboo basket and dragging heavy shackles on his feet, apparently in prison. Facing the camera of a stranger, he looked curious. The crowd gathered around was whispering and discussing
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City Square was bustling with activity. A landlord's wife dressed in emerald green satin and glasses sat on the base of a stone lion, spitting a smoke ring in her mouth leisurely, and her eyes squinted with a cunning aura. Next to her, her attendant stood respectfully, holding a stove in his hand
The Qing Dynasty was a dynasty on horseback, and archery was highly regarded. Even in the late Qing Dynasty, Western guns and cannons prevailed, the Qing army still insisted on using traditional bows and arrows, demonstrating its bravery
In the wilderness, a group of brawny men built a makeshift torture rack with wooden sticks and tied a shirtless prisoner to him, his feet dragging heavy wooden shackles. An official strode by, a former torture site, and the prisoner was waiting for a thousand cuts to be executed. The photographer captured this thrilling scene. The pavilion next to it was full of people watching the play, perhaps they were used to this kind of bloody scene, and their expressions were a little indifferent
During the Qing Dynasty, when photography first entered China, it was a daunting fear, and people feared that their souls would be taken away by cameras. However, as time went on, people gradually accepted the novelty. The man in this old photo, as an official at the time, was holding his child in his arms, skillfully facing the camera sideways, and the child's sleeping face became the protagonist. This kind of composition is rare in Qing Dynasty photography, and it is full of a different kind of warmth and charm
One year in Qingdao, several German soldiers broke into the village and forcibly invited local women to take pictures with them. They sit wantonly in a row and even put the child on their lap. In the corner of the photo, a Chinese man's angry expression is striking. This photograph, taken by Germany, records the fierce moments of the Sino-foreign conflict during the Boxer Rebellion
The Beijing Bell Tower
Although Ge Kun, a young talent, was only a minor official of the fifth grade, he made a glorious history - becoming the first Chinese to teach at Harvard University. In 1879, he went to the Harvard pulpit to teach Chinese language and culture, and was well paid. However, three years later, he died of pneumonia in the United States
A young couple walks into a photo studio, ready to make chic memories. Under the camera, the husband is lying on the sofa on his side in a bewitching posture, caressing his wife's handkerchief in his hand, which is full of humor. And the wife sat dignifiedly, but playfully stilted Erlang's legs. This kind of reverse photography method must be the ingenious idea of the photographer, which injects humor and vitality into the picture
After 400 years of vicissitudes, Shenyang Desheng Gate has not fallen, and was one of the landmark buildings in the inner city of Shengjing in the Qing Dynasty. Unfortunately, during the city's transport reform in the 1950s, the old and fortified gates were demolished
In the face of a difficult life, some people choose to be indomitable. The tall man in the picture is leading his disciples to perform on the streets, earning a living by performing extraordinary acrobatics. Their exquisite skills attracted many passers-by. It is really admirable that the child has been honed to develop such amazing skills
During the Qing Dynasty, a noblewoman in costume sat quietly in front of the house, her folding fan gently shaking her nail covers, revealing her delicate life. Her maid stood with earrings and rings adorning her displeasure, and the cigarette pouch and pot in her hand seemed to tell of her inner rebellion
In the Qing Dynasty, there was such a pair of beautiful people, leaving a chic group photo. In the photo, the husband is handsome but reclining on the sofa as a woman, and half of her face is covered by a pink silk handkerchief. And the wife sat quietly on the side, Erlang's legs were slightly cocked, and his expression was calm, obviously familiar with her husband's playfulness. At that time, the family that was able to walk into the photo studio must have been either rich or expensive
During the Qing Dynasty, a young man sat quietly in the examination booth of the Jiangnan Gongyuan Academy, preparing for the next nine consecutive days. He was smiling and confident, as if victory was in sight. After more than 700 years, Jiangnan Gongyuan has cultivated more than 800 champions, more than 100,000 jinshi and millions of people for the country. It's a cradle of talent and dreams
These three officials, Shen Guifen, Dong Xun, and Mao Changxi, were all important ministers of the Qing Dynasty who held important positions in the Prime Minister's Yamen. Shen Guifen, a Han cardinal who held real power, left this precious group photo in the garden with Dong Sui, who was the secretary of the household department, and Mao Changxi, the secretary of the Ministry of Works, who walked in the prime minister's yamen. In the photo, the three of them are sitting upright on the Taishi chair, majestic and solemn, showing extraordinary bearing
A woman of noble birth sat quietly in front of the house wrapped in gorgeous clothes. The waitress stood beside her, and the mother and daughter had similar eyebrows. Although the daughter was holding a cigarette pouch, her face was displeased. The woman gently shook the folding fan, and the fingertips were delicately put on the fingertips. The teenage daughter is adorned with beautiful earrings and rings, but it is difficult to hide her reluctance
The imperial concubines of the Qing Dynasty gathered, and the aesthetic changes were difficult to determine the beauty. Maybe they were all beautiful women back then, or they were married to each other. Mo was fascinated by Yan Dou in "The Legend of Zhen Huan", the real concubines are very different from the drama. There are many stories behind the face when you explore the historical truth
A rare photograph from the Qing Dynasty captures a heartwarming scene: a Chinese man and two United States friends stand in front of an exotic house, sitting gracefully next to three ladies from China, Japan and the Philippines. This is not a simple gathering, but an act of charity that transcends borders. In this international aid station, there may be a language barrier, but their kindness does not need to be translated, and together they hold up a warm sky for the orphans
At the end of the 19th century, in the distant Chinatown of San Francisco, United States, a Chinese warrior with unique skills surprised the four with a dance of two swords. His sword skills are as fast as the wind, demonstrating the breadth and profundity of Chinese martial arts. As the first generation of Chinese to go to the United States, he made a living in United States in this way, which not only showed his personal talent, but also conveyed the unique charm of Chinese culture
In the suburbs of Beijing at the end of the Qing Dynasty, a Manchu woman wearing an elegant cheongsam and a delicate flag head walked leisurely with a child in hand. Her face seems to resemble that of a historical celebrity, which evokes reverie. Although Manchu costumes are misunderstood as monotonous colors and conservative styles, they contain profound historical heritage and national cultural characteristics, which are not inferior to Hanfu and Tang costumes