White Pagoda, Foochow 1869

"White Pagoda, Foochow" is a striking 1869 photograph by John Thomson, capturing a traditional Chinese architectural scene. The image showcases a multi-tiered white pagoda, a symbol of Buddhist influence, rising above a cityscape of tiled rooftops. Thomson's work, taken during his travels through China, provides a glimpse into the daily life and religious landscape of Foochow (now known as Fuzhou), a coastal city in southeastern China. The photograph's composition highlights the intricate details of the buildings, emphasizing the unique beauty of Chinese architecture. This image, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a valuable record of 19th-century Chinese life and architectural traditions.