Tag: art

Felice Beato - British Photographer!

UK: The Historical Background of Colonial-Era Western Photography in Beijing! (26.10.2026)

What is truly curious, however, is that more than 30 years have since passed, yet this particular panoramic scene remains in my possession alone; I have neither encountered nor discovered the existence of a second copy. Thus, for the time being, it can be said that the earliest images of the Inner City of Beijing—specifically the area around Tiananmen—(found in printed materials from the Republic of China era) exist only in my personal collection; no one else possesses them. In terms of historical narrative, this photograph—a view of Beijing’s Inner City forcibly captured by Anglo-French aggressors—represents an eternal source of pain for the Chinese people. It serves as stark, tangible proof that a nation left behind will inevitably fall victim to aggression.

Continue reading

People on the streets of Guangzhou, photographed by Jules Itier in 1844.

UK: Governor-General Qiyang (耆英) – [1844] First Photograph Taken in [Guangzhou] China! (26.10.2026)

When photographic technology first entered China during the mid-19th century (from Europe) – the circumstances that surrounded this event were far from pleasant. Photography historian and author of “Oriental Photography Notes” – Na Mo Ai (南无哀) – said, “The Opium War was the cue for Western photography to invade China”— In 1844, the French Labignie Mission visited China and forced the Qing government, which had suffered defeat in the First Opium War (agaunst England), to sign the (Unequal) “Sino-French Whampoa Treaty”. During the negotiations, the Mission’s “Customs Officer” (Jules Itier) summoned the Chinese Representative (who was in fact ethnic “Manchurian”) – Governor-General Qiyang (耆英) [1787-1858] of Liangguang (Minister of Commerce for the Five Ports) – where his presence was recorded at the meeting thruogh the taking of a “photograph”. The above front-face “portrait” of Qiyang is believed to be the first modern “photograph” taken on the Mainland of China.

Continue reading

Japan Responsible for Mongolian Forest Fire! 2026

Japan: TV Firm Apologizes Over Wildfire Started in Mongolian Nature Reserve! (23.10.2026)

The idea was to weaken it further by encouraging the Kremlin to divert troops into Asia. However, despite the material damage suffered – the USSR absorbed the losses and due to it Socialist system – was able to recover in a remarkably short-time. In just three-months of defeating the Nazi Germans – the war-weary Soviet Red Army was restructured, re-trained, and re-armed. However, the Soviets requested help from Socialist Mongolia – which was granted (Mongolia had not been involved in WWII). The Soviet Red Army entered Manchuria alongside the People’s Army of Socialist Mongolia which assisted in the destruction of he occupying Imperial Japanese. Due to the post-1945 US policy of placating a defeated Japan – Japan has not had to acknowledge, apologise, or make amends for the War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity its forces committed in China (and Asia) between 1931-1945. Today, Japan has followed the US example and elected a far-right leader – who denies War Crimes and sends tributes to the shrines dedicated to Japan’s historical War Criminals (Yes – the Americans permitted the establishment of these hideous entities). Japanese behaviour outside of Japan has become ever-more militant, destructive, and unpredictable in recent times. Many believe this fire was deliberate – and that the Japanese leadership is behind it.

Continue reading

Terracotta Soldiers

China: Terracotta Warriors – Finger-Print Analysis – Sheds Light on Qin Dynasty Work-Force! (20.10.2026)

2,200 years ago, a craftsman was sculpting ears for samurai figurines. The wet mud was still soft. He reached out and pressed it down, pressing the final arc of his ear wheel firmly. This action took only one or two seconds.

Fingerprints were left on the muddy surface. Following the clay figurines into the kiln, out of the furnace, and down to the pit, they lay there for over two thousand years.

Now, these marks were being measured one by one. The team conducting this analysis was led by Li Xiaoxi, an archaeologist at the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Museum in China. They systematically studied the ancient fingerprints remaining on the Terracotta Warriors, publishing their findings in the international academic journal Cultural Heritage Journal.

Continue reading

UK: London’s Holborn Viaduct! (18.10.2026)

It seems that London had evolved into to two levels – creating steep inclines and bottle-necks. Movement was inefficient and caused traffic-jams and congestion. The government needed to reduce the ability of workers to come together in ad hoc and agitated groups. Therefore, engineers and architects were tasked with creating sturdy bridges that could handle weight and continuous usage – whilst functioning to link one level of existence to another. In a way, the design – at least the steps – remind me of multi-storey car-parks – although in a much more ornate state. Like the original Tube network – thousands of working-class men (many Irish) – dedicated their lives to building these structures. Of course, these ordinary men (who performed all the labour) are not remembered – but only the middle-class who control the means of production. It is through architecture that the current generation gains an understanding of what physically existed and came before them. Through physical structure – the thoughts that were in the mind of the creators can be seen in stone, wood, and cement. Furthermore, the statues tell something about the values and belief of the time.

Continue reading

Magnus Hirschfeld & Chinese Boyfriend - Li Shiu Tong ( 李兆堂)

Germany: Magnus Hirschfeld & Chinese Boyfriend “Li Shiu Tong”! (12.10.2026)

Whether or not the Hong Kong-born (British Subject) – Li Shiu Tong (李兆堂) [1907-1996] – was his lover is open to debate – but the weight of evidence does seem to suggest that he was (either Li’s Chinese family understood he was gay and approved of it – or they did not fully comprehend what was happening – and mistook his travelling abroad as being the product of his clever and successful scholarship). Hirschfeld was around 49-years his senior. I will attempt to look-up a reliable Chinese-language biography of Li and translate it for this blog. After the death of Hirschfeld – Li tended to drift toward the idea that LGBTQ identities are partly genetic and partly environmental. Li studied medicine in Shanghai – but never finished his degree – and even studied at Harvard, again without completely his degree. He was obviously very intelligent and managed to leave China and hold his own in the West. Li died in Canada aged 86 – with his younger brother dealing with his affairs. Reports suggest most of his Western property (much of it inherited from Hirschfeld – was thrown into a public skip. Indeed, a passerby is said to have rescued some of it – including the text-books, notes, and even the death-mask of Hirschfeld.

Continue reading

1 2 3 … 27