Yongquan Monastery, Drum Mountain, Fukien province, China. Photograph by John Thomson, 1870/1871.

Monastery, exterior of building seen from a height, surrounded by woods and steep rock faces. Two men in the foreground standing on a bridge over a stream (?)

In the second half of the 19th century, Yongquan monastery was a favourite place of resort for both foreigners and Chinese in the hot summer months. It is said to have taken its name, Yongquan, or the 'Bubbling Spring', from a spring of clear cold water in its vicinity. The monastery comprises a number of detached buildings set one behind the other in a spacious paved courtyard. This photograph was taken from the hill just above the monastery, and shows the tranquility and beauty of the place

1870

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion : stereograph

Monastery Foochow Bears Thomson's negative number: "340"

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 89 (reproduced)

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

Wellcome Collection 18936i