2017年10月1日星期日

1920s China through the lens of Joseph Rock: Simao(思茅)

Street and gate March 10, 1922

For the next few weeks GoKunming will publish a series of articles featuring photography byJoseph Francis Charles Rock, the Austrian-American author, geographer, linguist and botanist who explored western China extensively in the 1920s and 30s. We'll begin in southern Yunnan and then make our way north and then west, seeing what caught Rock's fancy as he moved through the countryside.

Rock's photo titles are often extremely brief, so, wherever possible we will include his unamended field notes or parts of corresponding diary entries under each image. Our first destination is Yunnan's Simao (思茅), a city which changed its name to Pu'er (普洱) in an attempt to cash in on a tea craze in 2007. These pictures were taken when Rock visited the region in February and March of 1922. There, he tended to focus on street scenes, merchants in town and the surrounding landscape.

Rock's photo titles and descriptions use a Romanization system that has been discontinued, or that he himself invented. For instance, he often writes 'Simao' as 'Szemao', while in other places names and places are inconsistently spelled. We can forgive him, as the photos provide an amazing view of southwest China as it existed 95 years ago. The photos and text below are published here unaltered, with special thanks to the Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library at Harvard Universityfor graciously allowing us to use them. An enormous collection of Joseph Rock photos is available through the university's Visual Information Access web portal as well.

Four soldiers with rifles posed on a path March 13, 1922

"Part of my escort, four Chinese soldiers photographed on the top ridge between Szemao and Nakoli."

Village street with rocks and thatch roofed buildings March 1, 1922

"Village of Muang Hing, Chinese name Puting, Between Szemao and Chin Lung Chiang."

Street with people March 3, 1922

"Street scene in Szemao"

Group of people March 6, 1922

"Lissoo women and men. Danish Mission at Szemao."

Group of people March 8, 1922

"Lissoo women in gala dress."

Caravan of pack animals in front of buildings March 10, 1922

"Cotton caravan from the Kentung State, being inspected at the Szemao, Yunnan, Custom House."

Street with pack animal and buildings March 10, 1922

"The Szemao custom house with a cotton caravan just starting after examination."

Temple March 10, 1922

"Temple on the heights outside the city wall, east gate of Szemao, Yunnan, China."

Custom house with animals in front March 10, 1922

"Custom house - Cotton caravan in front."

Brick gate with tree March 10, 1922

"North gate of Szemao - The tree to the left is Mai Yom."

City gate March 10, 1922

"East gate of Szemao."

View through archway of street March 10, 1922

"Main Street - looking through the south gate."

View of temple, hills, and trees March 10, 1922

"View from the room on top of North gate looking towards a temple and the hills."

City rooftops March 10, 1922

"View of part of Szemao inner city from the top of South gate."

Crowded street procession with soldiers March 6, 1922

"Procession of the great Buddha in Szemao."

Crowded street procession with people carrying idols March 6, 1922

"Idols being carried in the religious procession."

Article by: Patrick Scally
Images: Joseph Rock

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