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"

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

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

Wellcome Collection 18936i