Will Yu Xunling’s works be of great help to future generations in their study of Qing history?

It is mentioned in "A Brief Introduction to the Life of Yu Xunling" that Xunxunling lived in the late Qing Dynasty and belonged to the Manchu nationality. He was born in a very privileged family and received a good education from his father since he was a child. Early on, his father took him to France to study.

Photographed by Ling

"The Biography of Yu Xunling" also said that Yu Xunling was unwilling to take photos of Cixi after returning to China because the court system was strict and he could not come in and out freely. In addition, Xun Ling also heard that Empress Dowager Cixi was very strict with many people at that time. Finally, Ling tried other methods to test whether Empress Dowager Cixi liked taking pictures before deciding. Cixi was very happy to see it. She also ordered not to investigate whether the photos taken by Yu Xunling were good or bad, so Yu Xunling dared to enter the palace to take pictures of Cixi.

The Empress Dowager Cixi likes to dress up and takes pictures of herself when she has the opportunity. Of course Cixi liked it very much. As for Ling, he must have some excellent qualities, such as looks and abilities. Otherwise, Cixi would not have agreed so happily. After some exposure to photography, he became a successful photographer for the Empress Dowager Cixi with his handsome appearance. He also took photos of the Empress Dowager Cixi alone. This shows that he was deeply appreciated by the Empress Dowager Cixi. Of course, Yu Xunling is not only the photographer of the Empress Dowager Cixi, but also the first photographer of the entire palace.

Yu Xunling’s greatest achievement in his life is photography. Photography was rare at that time, and few people took pictures at that time because it was a very luxurious thing. But for the Empress Dowager Cixi at that time, taking pictures of her was very common. He took all the photos of Cixi that have been preserved to this day. The above is a brief introduction to Ling’s life.

Ling’s works

As the first photographer in the Qing Dynasty, Yu Xunling not only took pictures of the Empress Dowager Cixi, but also took pictures of other royal members. Therefore, Ling left behind many works, most of which are also owned by the Empress Dowager Cixi. Ling's works were of great help to later generations in studying Qing history.

Xun Yuling's work "The Empress Dowager Cixi"

Ling's works mainly come from the Cixi series known as the Western Paradise. Of course, this is just a loan. The content of the work is as follows: Empress Dowager Cixi and several attendants around her play different roles. The Empress Dowager Cixi dressed as Guanyin Bodhisattva, and her entourage acted as protectors. There are also many costume works, mainly made by the Empress Dowager Cixi. Empress Dowager Cixi also took photos in the sea. The scale of the shoot was huge. They are all in the same boat. The people around the Empress Dowager Cixi were dressed as Skanda and fairies. They were all rowing in the boat. There are also works by Empress Dowager Cixi on state affairs. Ling photographed the works of Empress Dowager Cixi and foreign envoys when they came to China. There are also many personal photos of Empress Dowager Cixi. She is dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes, sitting dignified and looking natural. These are also Ling's works.

In addition to the works of Empress Dowager Cixi, Xun Yuling also has a photo of her sister Yu Rongling, in which she dances during the performance of "Rose and Butterfly". The works of Yu Xunling and her other sister Yu Deling were shot by Xunling herself. Ling has many works. He also took photos of the Empress Dowager Cixi and her two sisters.

Yu Xunde Yuling Rongling

Refers to Ling, Yu Deling and Yu Rongling, they are brothers and sisters. Xun Yuling is the elder brother of Yu Deling and Yu Rongling. Yu Deling and Yu Rongling are Yu Xunling's sisters. The three of them received a good education since childhood, and their father took them to study and travel in France. The three of them grew up and had different careers. My brother Yu Xunling's main job is photography. He was the first photographer in the Qing Dynasty. In addition to taking photos of the Empress Dowager Cixi, he also took photos of members of the royal family. Due to Ling's achievements, he took many photos of the royal family at that time, which gave us contemporary people the opportunity to understand the appearance and life of Cixi and others at that time, which was of great help in understanding the history of the Qing Dynasty.

Photos of Yu Deling

Yu Deling and her father have been to Japan and France. From a young age, they have broadened their horizons. She is also very knowledgeable and speaks many foreign languages. Few people had these skills at the time. She knows a lot about western culture. After returning to Beijing, Empress Dowager Cixi invited her to the palace. After a few years, she left the palace because her father was ill. Because he has lived in a royal palace and understands foreign languages, he has been living in the United States since marrying an American. In her spare time, she wrote details about her life in the palace. After publishing the book, her popularity in Ling soared because she used numerous photos of her brother Ling. These precious materials are of great help to historical research in today's era.

Yu Rongling has had a strong talent for dancing since she was a child. When his father discovered the gift of the day, he hired a professional teacher to guide her. As a result, when I grew up, I successfully choreographed and directed many dances, all of which were very beautiful. During the Cultural Revolution, she suffered heavy losses and lived in poverty.

Through a brief understanding of Xun Ling, Yu Deling and Yu Rongling, we can see that although they are all mothers, their fates are different.