Ming tombs, Peking: the Lingendian (Hall of Prominent Favour or Great Sacrifice Hall) at Changling. Photograph by John Thomson, 1871.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1871
Reference:
19252i
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About this work

Description

Changling, tomb of the Yongle Emperor (1403-1425): view of large building from outside. A man in the left foreground. Changling is the most magnificent Ming tomb in Beijing. Completed around 1413, it was one of a number of the Yongle emperor s grand projects. The Great Sacrifice Hall is situated in the second or sacrificial quadrangle, where imperial offerings were made to the emperor of a former dynasty. It is perhaps the most unique and impressive building within the complex. It has 32 pillars, built entirely with teak from Yunnan. The ceiling is colourfully painted, while the outer roof of the Hall is covered in yellow glazed tiles

Publication/Creation

1871

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion ; glass approximately 20.5 x 25.5 cm (8 x 10 in.)

Lettering

The Ming Tombs, China Bears Thomson's negative number: "498"

Notes

This is one of a collection of original glass negatives made by John Thomson. The negatives, made between 1868 and 1872, were purchased from Thomson by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1921

References note

John Thomson, Through China with a camera, London, 1898, before p. 273, as "Temple of Ching-tsoo, Ming tombs"
Nick Pearce, Photographs of Peking, China 1861-1908: an inventory and description of the Yetts collection at the University of Durham: through Peking with a camera, Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 2005, no. 54, pp. 136-137
China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 71 (reproduced)

Reference

Wellcome Collection 19252i

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    19252i.1
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  • LocationStatusAccess
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    19252i.2
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