The Flower (or Flowery) Pagoda (花塔), Guangzhou

The Flower (or Flowery) Pagoda (花塔), Guangzhou

Collection

Hughes, Thomas

Identifier

Hu-s06

Notes

University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: Hu-s06. Liu RongTa (Six Banyan Trees Pagoda), also known as Hua Ta (花塔 Flower, or Flowery, Pagoda) was first constructed in 1047. It is often simply referred to by the name of the temple it is a part of, i.e. 六榕寺 Liurong si = Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Su Dongpo wrote a poem about the six luxuriant banyan trees, after a visit in 1100. The pagoda is nine stories on the outside, but seventeen stories inside. Photograph by Sylvester Dutton and Michaels, Canton (Michaels' first name may have been Vince). This print is a cropped version of Dutton and Michaels’ photograph. More complete prints include the following words, scratched into the negative, in the foreground area: ‘Pagoda at Canton – 2300 Years Old / Dutton & Michaels Artists’. See VH03-70 (another print). See also See AB-s03 and UB01-19.

Caption on photograph

Pagoda somewhere in China / Cannot remember where

Location

Guangzhou

Date

1863

Photographer

Dutton and Michaels

Material

Paper

Media

Black and white photograph