What is the history of Qing Palace photography?

In the early days when photography was introduced to China, it was once regarded as "strange skill and cunning" and "heresy" by the rulers of Qing Dynasty. Therefore, photography is strictly prohibited in the Forbidden City, and it is difficult for photographic equipment and photographers to enter the palace. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that the situation changed slightly. Empress Dowager Cixi was attracted by the cleverness of photography in her later years and used it for fun. So, a man named Yu Xunling was called into the palace to take pictures of Cixi.

Yu Xun, Zhengbaiqi people, Han army. His father, Duke Yu Geng, served as a diplomat in his early years and sent missions to Japan and France. Yu Xunling lived abroad with her parents, brothers and sisters and received western education. While studying in the French Army School, he began to learn photography and took some news photos. At the end of 1902, Yu Xunling returned to Beijing with his full set of photographic equipment.

1903, Yu Xunling entered the DPRK and became a photographer for Cixi. Because Cixi loves to take pictures, she gives special treatment to the age of honor. Because kneeling can't reach the camera, Cixi specifically told him not to kneel when taking pictures. At the same time, he is nearsighted and can't face the light without glasses. Cixi chartered him to wear glasses (it is a rule in the palace not to wear glasses in front of Cixi).

During his tenure as a court photographer, Yu Xunling took many "royal photos" for Cixi. These photos are divided into three types: one is a full-length photo of a single person, some are wearing royal clothes, and some are wearing casual clothes. The second is a photo of Gong Wei's life. Third, make-up entertainment photos, some taken indoors, some taken by boat on the water, with different characters and different scenes. Most of Cixi's makeup photos are dressed as Guanyin, and the brand of "Master Guanyin of Putuo Mountain" is nailed on the set or screen.

Cixi often shows off when taking pictures. In the archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the 29th year of Guangxu (1903), there was a message that Cixi wanted to take makeup photos: On July 16th, she went to the sea to take photos, sat flat on the boat and didn't build a shed. Sigege, dressed as a lucky face and wearing lotus clothes, reached under the house. Lien Win plays Wei Tuo, thinking of bringing Wei Tuo's helmet and equipment. Three girls and five girls dressed as boating fairies, wearing fishermen's hats and plain white snake clothes, thinking of wearing ancient costumes, red and green can also be used. We need two paddles. Prepare a dozen bamboo poles with bamboo leaves in the garden. Prepare ss, prepare for the eighth day of August.

It can be seen that the photos of Cixi were carefully planned and arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Besides Yu Xunling, Cixi also asked Japanese photographer Yamamoto Sanjiro in China to take a "small photo of flowers" in the Summer Palace. As a reward for taking pictures, Cixi gave Yamamoto Zanjiro 22,000 gold. A photo costs 22,000 gold, which is the highest record in the world. This shows the luxury of Cixi.