Photography Zhongxiangjie Temple on Longevity Hill

• Skušek's Collection (SEM)
• Slovene Ethnographic Museum

A black-and-white photograph showing the front façade in the form of a three-part memorial arch (pailou 牌樓) of the Buddhist complex at Longevity Hill (Wanshoushan 萬壽山) or “Mountain of Longevity” in the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan 頤和園) in Beijing. The memorial triumphal arch between the dragon reliefs with a pearl also bears the inscription “Kingdom of Many Fragrances” (Zhongxiangjie 眾香界), the name of the Buddhist kingdom. The façade is surrounded by yellow and green glazed tiles. The rest of the uncovered façade is red. Besides the Zhongxiangjie Temple, the complex consists of another temple and a tower.

The photograph is the 312th of 449 photographs of Beijing and its surroundings in the album of Ivan Skušek Jr., purchased during his stay in Beijing (1914–1920). In the handwritten inventory of the album, the photograph is referred to as Wan-Schou-Schan: Buddha Tempel. (DZ, MV)

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