A series of rare color photos from the late Qing Dynasty: Revealing the beauty of palace maids, a big surprise

Rare photos reveal many interesting stories about the Qing Dynasty. With very realistic colors and images, the set of photos captures all types of people and different professions in the late Qing Dynasty.

Chinese historical dramas have long given us a glimpse into the lives of different classes in Qing Dynasty society. But in reality, are they like in the movies?

The Qing Dynasty is considered one of the dynasties with many imprints in China's feudal history. This nearly 300-year dynasty also witnessed many cultural and artistic achievements. According to historians, there are three emperors considered to have the greatest influence on the development and prosperity of this dynasty: Khang Hi, Ung Chinh and Qianlong. History calls the reign of these three famous emperors "Khang - Qian's prosperity".

However, in the late stages of the Qing Dynasty, especially in the second half of the 19th century, the dynasty's military power declined, and it faced many internal rebellions and external pressures. outside, making people's lives extremely difficult. During this period, many technologies from the West were imported to China, such as cameras.

Thanks to cameras, many images of people, landscapes, and historical events at the end of the Qing Dynasty were preserved. Below is a series of color photos taken more than 100 years ago. These photos surprise the true lives of many people at the end of the Qing Dynasty.

The image shows a mother and daughter walking down the street with the young mother wearing a typical female headgear of that period. Next to the mother and child is a man wearing a pigtail, the hairstyle of men during the Qing Dynasty.

Image of a woman riding a bicycle. It is known that at the end of the Qing Dynasty, bicycles were also known as foreign cars and a bicycle at that time cost up to 50 taels of silver, far exceeding the assets of many families.

A noble family was having a meal together, including the first wife and five young ladies. The food on the table was very rich and the maids stood on both sides to serve.

In the photo, it can be seen that the women in the photo all have small lotus feet, showing that these are concubines from a rich, noble family.

The photo shows two wives in a well-off family. However, these two women had big feet because ethnic minorities in Southwest China during this period did not practice foot binding.

Family portrait drawing of the late Qing Dynasty with a 2-year-old son, a 17-year-old mother and a 13-year-old father. This is said to be the result of the custom of early marriage during the Qing Dynasty.

Color photo shows Qing Dynasty officials on visits to Europe and the United States. The embroidery on the officials' costumes is very sophisticated, showing the authority of the officials.

The ultimate side profile of a girl in the late Qing Dynasty. This girl has a neat bun, a perfect, fresh and elegant face. Her outfit led fashion trends in the late Qing Dynasty.

Mahjong is an entertaining game that originated in the late Qing Dynasty and has been passed down to this day. This photo captures the scene of playing mahjong in a castle. In the photo, two men are playing mahjong with two girls. In particular, the young girl sitting opposite the camera lens is truly beautiful.

This is the only remaining photo of Emperor Guangxu, the 11th emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

The photo was secretly taken by a foreigner in 1902. In the photo, Emperor Quang Tu has just stepped down from the palanquin. During his lifetime, Emperor Quang Tu made many efforts to reform the country. Unfortunately, the ultimate power of the Qing Dynasty at that time was in the hands of Empress Dowager Cixi. Therefore, this emperor's efforts still could not save the Dai Qing dynasty from decline.

This is a secretly taken photo of Empress Dowager Cixi. When she discovered that there was a photographer secretly taking photos on the roof, Tu Hi held up a handkerchief to cover her face.

Photo of two women in the late Qing Dynasty. Consider the costumes and decorations on the table. These two people definitely come from wealthy families. The clock on the table was a rare item at that time, not everyone could own it. Furthermore, the charisma of the two women in the photo also exudes elegance and charisma.

The concubines played cards together. This is an image that truly reflects life in the palace. It's not really flashy like what many people often see in historical films.

Photo of a wealthy couple in the late Qing Dynasty. The woman in the photo has small legs. This is the result of foot binding since childhood. Accordingly, feet that meet the standard "three-inch lotus heel" are only about 7 - 8 cm long. Because their feet were too small, ancient women had many difficulties walking. They have to walk gingerly and gracefully, sometimes with someone to help them. If they fall, many people cannot even stand up on their own.

The true life of a man of the Manchu nobility. When going out, this noble had someone pulling the cart and a servant carrying the birdcage.

This is an old photo of a lady and maid of a merchant family in the late Qing Dynasty. The lady in the photo has a beautiful face and wears a loose dress. She held an umbrella in her hand, with a noble temperament.

Empress Dowager Cixi eats hundreds of delicious seafood every day and still has 2 dishes that she doesn't dare touch with her chopsticks, why? Thiên Di16:18:09 14/12/2023Empress Dowager Cixi is famous for being a gourmet. Every day, even though she only eats alone, the chef has to make hundreds of different dishes. However, there are two dishes that the Queen Mother absolutely did not touch, making many people curious.