Photography Stele at a Temple in the Western Hills

A black-and-white photograph showing the stele park at one of the various sites in the 8,400-hectare area around Beijing known as the Western Hills (Xishan 西山). There is not sufficient information to determine the exact location of the temple. In the foreground, two stelae stand on the back of the mythological turtle Bixi 贔 屃, while a further two of similar design stand on a wider pedestal with richly carved reliefs. A staircase leads to a raised platform that represents the main entrance of the temple. To the left of the stairs we see the supporting columns of the memorial triumphal arch (pailou 牌樓) that spans the platform.

Memorial plaques or stelae mounted on turtles are common throughout East Asia, but first appeared in China. Originally they were used as gravestones, with the turtle supporting the stelae symbolising the longevity and virtue of the deceased, but later they were also used to commemorate important events. In the photo we see a turtle hybrid, a mythological creature called Bixi, one of the nine sons of the Chinese Dragon King.

The photograph is the 203rd 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 Gedenksteine ​​im “Tempel der westl. Berge”. (DZ, MV)