In this series of photographs, we can get a glimpse of the real face of the life of the people in the late Qing Dynasty. Through the restoration and coloring of old black and white photos by AI technology, these historical moments can be presented to us in a more vivid way. Each photograph captures a different scene and person, giving us a picture of life in that era. Let's explore these fascinating moments one by one.
Photo 1: A man selling a feather duster
In this photo, a man carries a bunch of feather dusters and appears to be hawking on the street. These dusters were once an important cleaning tool during the Qing Dynasty, but have now been replaced by vacuum cleaners. The man's expression was solemn, and his livelihood could be closely related to these feather dusters. This photograph takes us back to a time when time has passed.
Photo 2: An old woman buying fruit
An old woman wrapped in small feet and holding a fan is picking fruit from a stall. This photograph conveys the desire of ordinary people for fresh food, and also reflects the pursuit of quality of life in that era. The fruit in the eyes of the old woman may represent a family meal, and her eyes are full of expectation and satisfaction.
Photo 3: Young couple taking a group photo
A young couple sits in their yard, smiling and posing for a group photo. Although their clothes are not flashy, they seem to be living well. This photograph captures the warmth and happiness of the family, and also reflects the family life in the late Qing Dynasty.
Photo 4: A Manchu woman basking in the sun in winter
On a clear winter day, several Manchu women sat on benches, enjoying the warm sun. Their costumes are gorgeous, indicating that their social status may be relatively high. This photograph shows us the cultural characteristics of different ethnic groups at that time.
Photo 5: A man taking his daughter-in-law back to her mother's house
A man in a straw hat rides a donkey, and his daughter-in-law sits next to her, seemingly on her way back to her mother's house. The daughter-in-law is still young, which may be a fragment of the life of a young couple. The scenes and emotions in the photographs are intertwined, depicting family life in the late Qing Dynasty.
Photo 6: A woman picking out a headdress
A woman stands in front of a jewelry stall, carefully selecting a headdress. Her eyes are full of interest and hesitation, and this moment captures the love of women for decoration. Headdresses may be part of their lives, perhaps a symbol of their status.
Photo 7: A woman in the park
The three women sitting on the park benches, the two women sitting on the sides, were laughing heartily, as if they saw something pleasant. The woman in the middle looks at the camera. Their dress and behavior reflect the differences in different social classes, and also present the entertainment scene of the late Qing Dynasty.
Photo 8: Telephone operator at intense work
In 1881, the telephone line in Shanghai had just been established. In this photo, an operator is intently operating a telephone device. This scene heralded the innovation of communication technology and also showed the industrial progress of the late Qing Dynasty.
Photo 9: Teachers and students of Guozijian in Beijing
Guozijian was the highest educational institution in ancient China, and this photograph shows a teacher and three students of Guozijian. Education has always been an important part of Chinese society, and this image reveals the educational scene of the late Qing dynasty.
Photo 10: The abandoned Badaling Great Wall
The Badaling Great Wall was an important defensive project during the Ming Dynasty, but it was gradually abandoned after the Qing army entered the customs. This photograph documents the decadence of the Great Wall, reflecting the vicissitudes of history and the changes of the times.
Photo 11: Woman sitting on the side of the road
A woman wrapped in small feet sits on a stone on the side of Tarzan Roadside to rest. Her location in the Middle Gate of Tarzan evokes conjecture about her journey and life experience. The smallfoot culture was also a feature of the late Qing dynasty, reflecting different definitions of beauty in society.
Photo 12: Old man rushing to the gathering
A gray-haired old man was walking on the way to the fair, and the bamboo basket contained his intentions
Pastries sold in the market. The old man's face was engraved with the marks of time, but he still stuck to his work. This scene takes us back to an era full of hard work and tenacity, and these old people were the mainstay of late Qing society.
Photo 13: A teenager from a rich family
This photo shows a well-dressed rich teenager. Although he was dressed elegantly, his expression was somewhat melancholy. Perhaps this teenager has the expectations of his family, or he is thinking about the meaning of life. This photo reflects the pressures and expectations within wealthy families.
Photo 14: A thin man walking down the street selling coal
A thin-looking man carries two baskets of coal and sells them in the streets. People around him watched him curiously, perhaps as a small trader in the community or as the breadwinner of the family. This photograph captures the hardships of the people of that era.
Photo 15: People working hard in a wood processing plant
Inside a wood processing plant, workers are hard at work. One of the workers is pulling a large saw and sawing wood, a job that requires great physical strength and skill. In the absence of modern machinery and equipment, workers relied on manpower to complete these heavy tasks. This photograph reflects the hardships and efforts of industrial production at that time.
Photo 16: A photo of a cosplay
The photo shows a man and his son playing street vendors and merchants in their home. This role-play may have been a form of entertainment for their family and also reflected the cultural characteristics of late Qing society. This image has left a touch of lightness and joy in history.
Photo XVII: A fruit vendor being called
A vendor weighs fruit on a pole scale as he lays out in a basket on the floor. This photograph shows the life of street vendors and reflects the demand for fresh food. Fruit may represent a good part of people's lives, and this moment captures the life of the city at that time.
Photo 18: People eating in front of a food stall
Two guests in straw shoes are enjoying a breakfast in front of a snack stall. In that era, street food stalls were common places for people to eat and an important place to socialize. This photograph conveys the emotions of people who find joy and contentment in simple life.
Photo 19: A Manchu woman traveling
A woman dressed in traditional Manchu costume rides a donkey and holds a folding fan. She may be going to an important occasion, so she dresses very formally. This photograph reflects the cultural characteristics of different ethnic groups and also shows the plurality of late Qing society.
Photo 20: The landlord Lao Cai and her seven wives and concubines
The man in the photo is a very wealthy landowner, wearing glasses, who has married seven wives and concubines in his life. This picture reflects the differences in social classes and the lives of wealthy families at that time. Each wife and concubine had a different age and status, and this photograph shows us the diversity of family structures of that era.
These precious photographs are the epitome of life in the late Qing Dynasty, each carrying historical memories and the life stories of ordinary people. Although time has passed, through these photographs we can feel the style of that era and the emotions of the people. This also reminds us that history is a precious book that needs to be cherished and passed on.