Old photos of Qing children

Rene Noon took many photos in Beijing and its surrounding areas. Now it seems that these images have great historical value and directly show the social life scenes in the late Qing Dynasty. He showed strong sympathy in photography. Although he is in the imperial city, his subjects are mainly the bottom people, not the dignitaries. Among them, Rene Noon's children's works have great visual impact.

At that time, there were many children at home, the older children were responsible for taking care of their younger brothers and sisters, and their parents were busy making a living. What do you think of the contrast between children's life in the late Qing Dynasty and children's life now in these photos?

Noble boy with glasses.

Pay attention to the image.

Dad took the children to play, which was a rare scene in the late Qing Dynasty. At that time, it was the responsibility of women to raise children, and men made a living.

At that time, there was no concept of "parent-child interaction", but if you can walk, you have to go out to play by yourself.

There was no children's education in the late Qing Dynasty. After all, only a few children can attend private schools and public schools, and most of them grew up in a free-range environment.

Simulate the mood of two children: I really want to travel around the world by boat!

The boy riding a donkey seems to have learned to trade.

The moat is by the river, mother washes clothes, and the children wait bored.

Play together.

Two children in cotton-padded jackets.

A branch is a toy.

Grandfathers and grandsons who farm the land.

Children who buy peanuts. There are not many snacks and no spare money to buy more.

Most of these children come from working people's families. Their clothes are simple and simple, and some of them are still very shabby. They are old enough to receive enlightenment education, but because their families are poor, their parents don't have enough money for them to study. If there is a "school" at home, you can study for a few years for free to eliminate illiteracy.

In the history of China, the government did not undertake the obligation to educate children. Although there are official schools, most children are excluded because of their small scale. Therefore, children should go to private schools. However, the cost of attending private schools is not affordable for every family, especially in rural areas.

At the end of Qing Dynasty, China began the modernization education reform. 1903, the Qing government promulgated the Constitution of Children's Home and Family Education Law, which started the process of legalization and standardization of preschool education and gave birth to the first batch of preschool education institutions. Mongolian nursing homes are equivalent to kindergartens now, and only accept children aged 3-7. They are located in nurseries, worship halls and big markets in provincial capitals and counties.

Encouraged by this policy, a number of government-run or private kindergartens have appeared in various places, but they are mainly set up in cities and towns, which are still out of reach for rural children.

When Rene Noon took these photos, the "Charter" had been implemented for many years, but the children obviously did not enjoy this benefit and still wandered the streets. Their future will only repeat the life of their parents.

Whenever I look at these photos, I especially want to know the fate of these children when they grow up. Did they escape the war in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China? Can they have enough food and clothes?