Historical Religious Scenes

Photos depicting traditional Chinese weddings and religious practices highlighting cultural attire and historical significance.

''The Wedding of Lady Blossom Tseng, Daughter of the Marquis Tseng, and Mr. Woo, at Pekin', 1888. From, 'The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 38. July to December, 1888'.

Mandarin' refers to Standard Chinese or Standard Mandarin language, which is based on the particular Mandarin dialect spoken in Beijing. In its broader sense, Mandarin is a diverse group of dialects spoken in northern and southwestern China. The prevalence of this linguistic homogeneity in northern China is largely the result of geography: much of northern China is covered by plains and is flat. In contrast to this, the mountains and rivers of southern China have promoted linguistic diversity. Chronologically, there is no clear line to mark where Middle Chinese ends and Mandarin begins; however, the 'Zhongyuan Yinyun', a rhyme book from the Yuan Dynasty, is widely regarded as a milestone in the history of Mandarin. In this rhyme book we see many characteristic features of Mandarin, such as the reduction and disappearance of final stop consonants and the reorganization of the Middle Chinese tones.

''The Wedding of Lady Blossom Tseng, Daughter of the Marquis Tseng, and Mr. Woo, at Pekin', 1888. From, 'The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 38. July to December, 1888'.

Albumin photograph by Raimund Stillfried von Rathenitz, 1876, depicting two priests standing before four scrolls displayed in the background.

Hai Phong (Haiphong) in Tonkin - Northern Vietnam. A Buddhist 'Priest' gives a 'sermon' Date: circa 1910s

Gojong the Emperor Gwangmu 1852 - 21 January 1919) was the twenty-sixth king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty and the first emperor of the Korean Empire.

China. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1869.

The Empress of China, 20th Century.Artist: Ogden's Guinea Gold Cigarettes

Empress Dowager Cixi; Tz'u-Hsi (1835-1908) Empress Dowager of the Manchu Yehenara clan surrounded by her court ladies. She controlled Manchu Qing Dynasty of China from 1867 until her death.

Joseon Era, Korean women and servants by a noble woman's litter in the streets of Seoul, 1890.

Between 1802 and 1945, Hue was the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, a feudal kingdom which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trinh Sam captured it, it was known as Phu Xuan. In 1802, Nguyen Phuc Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hue the national capital until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated and a communist government was established in Hanoi.

The office of Prime Minister was established in 1912, shortly after Mongolia first declared independence from the Manchu Qing Dynasty. There is some confusion as to the first holder of the office. A lama named Tseren (or Tserenchimed) held office as 'Prime Minister' during a provisional government, and is sometimes cited as the first holder of the modern office. However, the current Mongolian government considers Togs-Ochiryn Namnansuren, the first formal office-holder, to be the first.

Seoul is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of more than 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the developed world. The Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province, is the world's second largest metropolitan area with over 25.6 million people, home to over half of South Koreans along with 632,000 international residents. During the Korean War, Seoul changed hands between the Chinese-backed North Korean forces and the UN-backed South Korean forces several times, leaving the city heavily damaged after the war. One estimate of the extensive damage states that after the war, at least 191,000 buildings, 55,000 houses, and 1,000 factories lay in ruins. In addition, a flood of refugees had entered Seoul during the war, swelling the population of Seoul and its metropolitan area to an estimated 2.5 million, more than half of them homeless.

Houaphanh province is a province of eastern Laos. The province is bordered by Vietnam to the north, east and southeast, Xiangkhouang Province to the south and southwest, and Luang Prabang Province to the west. The terrain is rugged, with dense mountainous forest forming much of the province, particularly on the western side. The kingdom of Laos existed from the 14th to the 18th centuries, then split into three separate kingdoms. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three kingdoms, Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Champasak, uniting to form what is now known as Laos. The country briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1954, with a constitutional monarchy under King Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a long civil war ended the monarchy, when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975.

Studio opium typfying a contemporaneous Occidental view of China, including opium smoking and young 'singsong' girls with bound feet. Dated to the end of the Qing era, probably c. 1900.

Dalai Lama of Tibet. Photo shows Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933), the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Located in the northeast of the country, Shan State covers one-quarter of Burmas land mass. It was traditionally separated into principalities and is mostly comprised of ethnic Shan, Burman Pa-O, Intha, Taungyo, Danu, Palaung and Kachin peoples.

The Druk Gyalpo (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་; Wylie: brug rgyal-po; 'Dragon King') is the head of state of Bhutan. He is also known in English as the King of Bhutan. Bhutan, in the local Dzongkha language, is known as Dryukyul which translates as 'The Land of Dragons'. Thus, while Kings of Bhutan are known as Druk Gyalpo ('Dragon King'), the Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning 'Dragon people'. The current ruler of Bhutan is the 5th Hereditary King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is the 5th Druk Gyalpo. He wears the Raven Crown which is the official Crown worn by the Monarchs of Bhutan. He is correctly styled 'Mi'wang 'Ngada Rimboche' ('His Majesty') and addressed ''Ngada Rimboche' ('Your Majesty').

Man in Buddhist spiritual clothing.

Pilgrim beggars beating little gongs, near Lake Kawaguchi, Japan, 1904. Artist: Underwood & Underwood

Manchu noblemen in China 1880

Buddhist priests

Bonzes de la Pagoda Chinoise (Cholen), Saïgon, Cochinchine. Artist: Emile Gsell (French, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 1838-1879 Vietnam). Dimensions: 24.1 x 21.5 cm (9 1/2 x 8 7/16 in.). Date: 1866. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Black hat dancers performing at the annual festival in Paro Bhutan Copyright: xTxSatyan/DinodiaxPhotox

Japanese Christian pastor with his family 1880

Ourga, Mongolia a group of lamas near the southern entrance to the Shar Or (yellow palace) , 1913 - Mongolia - Stéphane Passet - (July 6-25) (French - Ourga , Mongolie Un groupe de lamas près de lentrée sud du Shar Ord ( Palais jaune )). Costume, religious personality, Tibetan rite Buddhism, child, group portrait, portico, place, hairstyle , headgear, agglomeration panorama, palace , castle, man, Clothing, personality, religion, human beings, habitat , architecture

Nam-Giu, province of Hà-Dông, Tonkin, Indochina the canton chief and the village authorities gathered in front of the Dinh (Communal House) , Léon Busy in Indochina (French - Nam-giu , Province de Hà-dông , Tonkin , Indochine Le chef de canton et les autorités villageoises réunis devant le Dinh ( maison communale )). Costume, temple, staircase, Evening, group portrait, religious or votive inscription, greeting, door, hairstyle , headgear, religious architecture, man, Clothing, human beings, registration , information, housing , architecture, Indochina, Tonkin, Namgûi, canton chief and municipal authorities in front of the village genius temple

Buddhist Priests in Japan, circa 1890

Portrait of an unknown Bonze, a Buddhist priest, Anonymous, 1860 - 1900 photograph Japan paper. cardboard albumen print priest ~ Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism. anonymous historical person portrayed Japan

83 Priests. .

Geisha, Japan, Asia

Geisha playing traditional musical instruments, Japan, 1880. Artist: Unknown

Some members of the Shanghai People's Peace Petition Group. The group was assembled to oppose a civil war.

Tonkin, Indochina a woman participating in the rituals of the there , Léon Busy in Indochina (French - Tonkin , Indochine Une femme participant aux rituels du Làm-chay). Buddhism, woman, religious habit, costume, temple, umbrella , umbrella , parasol, portrait, column, accessory, hairstyle , headgear, carved decor, Religion, human beings, clothing, Indochina

'Chinese criminals in the Viceroy's Yamen, now used as a jail', Tientsin (Tianjin), China, 1901. Artist: The Fine Art Photographers Co

Burma/Myanmar/India: King Thibaw of Burma (1859-1916) in exile, with court officials at his daughters' earboring ceremony, Ratnagiri, 1914

Oiran () were the courtesans of Edo period Japan. The oiran were considered a type of yujo () 'woman of pleasure' or prostitute. However, they were distinguished from the yujo in that they were entertainers, and many became celebrities of their times outside the pleasure districts. Their art and fashions often set trends among the wealthy and, because of this, cultural aspects of oiran traditions continue to be preserved to this day. The oiran arose in the Edo period (1600-1868). At this time, laws were passed restricting brothels to walled districts set some distance from the city center. In the major cities these were the Shimabara in Kyoto, the Shinmachi in Osaka, and the Yoshiwara in Edo (present-day Tokyo). These rapidly grew into large, self-contained 'pleasure quarters' offering all manner of entertainments. Within, a courtesan’s birth rank held no distinction, which was fortunate considering many of the courtesans originated as the daughters of impoverished families who wer

Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Indonesian-Malay Archipelago during the Colonial era. Members of this community in Melaka identify themselves as 'Nyonya Baba' instead of 'Baba-Nyonya'. Nyonya is the term for the women and Baba for the men. It applied especially to the ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java and other locations, who had adopted partially or in full Malay customs to become somewhat assimilated into the local communities. In colonial times they were an elite in Singapore, Melaka and Penang, identifying strongly with the British administration. Most have lived for generations along the Straits of Malacca. They were usually traders, the middleman of the British and the Chinese, or the Chinese and Malays, or vice versa because they were often educated in English. Because of this, they almost always had the abilit

Buddhist Monks at Temple Mass. South Korea. Circa 1954 -1960.

Although ballet in the classical European sense was unknown in Siam at the turn of the 20th century, the Siamese were avid theatre-goers. Mime, dance, plays and shadow puppetry were all very popular. Many of the stage plays involved dancers, mostly female, who adorned themselves in jewellery and exhibited lithe movements portraying beauty and flexibility, especially in bending the fingers back. The most common plays were called 'khon', which essentially feature scenes from the 'Ramakien', the Thai version of the Hindu epic 'The Ramayana'. In this scene, half the dancers wear male costumes, while the others (left of picture) wear a female 'phasin' or long sarong.

Kisaeng (also spelled gisaeng), sometimes called ginyeo, were female official prostitutes or entertainers. Kisaeng are artists who work to entertain others, such as the yangban aristocracy and kings. First appearing in the Goryeo Dynasty, kisaeng were legally entertainers of the government, required to perform various functions for the state. Many were employed at court, but they were also spread throughout the country. They were carefully trained, and frequently accomplished in the fine arts, poetry, and prose, although their talents were often ignored due to their inferior social status. Women of the kisaeng class performed various roles, although they were all of the same low status in the eyes of yangban society. Aside from entertainment, these roles included medical care and needlework. In some cases, such as at army bases, kisaeng were expected to fill several such roles. Kisaeng, both historic and fictional, play an important role in Korean conceptions of the traditional culture

The Swahili people are a Bantu ethnic group and culture found on the coast of East Africa. The Swahili people mainly reside on the Swahili Coast, in an area encompassing Zanzibar archipelago, coastal Kenya, the Tanzanian coast and northern Mozambique. The name Swahili is derived from the Arabic word Sawahil, meaning 'coastal', and they speak the Swahili language.

'Colossal statue of Buddha, reverenced by the Japanese, in a sylvan Temple, Kamakura, Japan', c1900. Creator: Unknown.

Burmese lady

Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Malay-Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era. Members of this community in Malaysia identify themselves as 'Nyonya-Baba' or 'Baba-Nyonya'. Nyonya is the term for the females and Baba for males. It applies especially to the ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java and other locations, who adopted partially or in full Malay-Indonesian customs to become partially assimilated into the local communities. While the term Peranakan is most commonly used among the ethnic Chinese for those of Chinese descent also known as Straits Chinese, it may also be applied to the Baba-Yaya community in Phuket and other provinces of southern Thailand.

The history of Northern Thailand is dominated by the Lanna Kingdom, which was founded in 1259 by King Mangrai and remained an independent force until the 16th century. Much of Northern Thailand is mountainous.

A (thankfully) staged Seppuku or Harakiri ceremony (from the late Edo period) of ritual suicide. A Japanese man has opened a cut in his abdomen in front of two witnesses. As soon as the blood begins to flow, a relative or friend (a 'second') will cut off his head to prevent him from suffering. Date: circa 1910s

Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Malay-Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era. Members of this community in Malaysia identify themselves as 'Nyonya-Baba' or 'Baba-Nyonya'. Nyonya is the term for the females and Baba for males. It applies especially to the ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java and other locations, who adopted partially or in full Malay-Indonesian customs to become partially assimilated into the local communities. While the term Peranakan is most commonly used among the ethnic Chinese for those of Chinese descent also known as Straits Chinese, it may also be applied to the Baba-Yaya community in Phuket and other provinces of southern Thailand.

Stone statue along Sacred Way leading to the Ming Dynasty Tombs near Beijing, China, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXVII, No 8, February 15, 1900.

In 19th-century Siam, almost every young male in the royal family entered the 'sangha' or Buddhist monkhood as a rite of passage. The tonsure ceremony was an initial act of this rite as all novices must have their heads shaved to enter the monastic order. The tradition survives to this day, not just among Thai royalty, but at all levels of society.

The Fortune Teller Description: "Photograph of Fortune Teller, Japan". Photograph taken by Herbert Ponting (1870-1935). Date: c.1907 japan, fortuneteller, herbertponting

Nam-Giu, province of Hà-Dông, Tonkin, Indochine A canton leader reading an imperial patent , Léon Busy in Indochina (French - Nam-giu , Province de Hà-dông , Tonkin , Indochine Un chef de canton lisant un brevet impérial). Statue, political figure, costume, shoe, shadow , umbrella , parasol, portrait, hairstyle , headgear, man, Personality, clothing, human beings, Indochina, Tonkin, Mandarins: Canton leader reading a royal patent

Siam Thailand. Photograph, 1981, from a negative by John Thomson, 1865.

Seated group of Iranian (Persian) Dervishes. Dervish or Darvesh in Persian usually refers to a person who is a seeker of the truth i.e. universal truth. Within the Islamic tradition such people are often known as Sufis, Sufi, people of the way or mystics and they come from every strata of society; here monetary considerations are inapplicable since the situation is that of a deep personal inner spiritual longing. There are in existence a number Sufi Orders many of which bear the name of a great

Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933), the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet, c1910. Artist: Unknown

Two Greek Orthodox priests , Priests, Pottery. Nicholas Catsimpoolas Collection

The Sword Dance in Korea, a scene from "Sparks of Life"

The workshop of the embroiderer Juan Manuel Rodriguez Ojeda in 1929.

Phuket, formerly known as Talang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang, i.e. 'Cape Salang'), is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island there are no land boundaries. Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailands largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.

Turkey. Kurds. 1900

Geisha playing shamisen, Japan, Asia

from a photography album with images of Japan, 19th-20th century, 7 1/2 x 9 9/16 in. (19.05 x 24.29 cm) (sheet)9 x 13 x 1 1/2 in. (22.9 x 33 x 3.8 cm) (album, closed), Hand-tinted gelatin silver print, Japan, 19th-20th century

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Surabaya. Speech by Indonesian man in a large room with carvings. On the left a European man, right a village head? And listening villagers. 1946. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Locals at pigeon feeding before the Hachimanzchein in Kamakura

Japanese examining swords

Yu Zai's sister is at the mourning hall. Yu Zai was a member of the Chinese Communist Party and was a martyr that died in Kunming, opposing the civil war.

Dance at the Koyo-Kwan, Maple Club in Shiba. Kazumasa Ogawa (Japanese, 1860 - 1929)

Sensō-ji (龍山浅草寺 Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji) is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. Formerly associated with the Tendai sect of Buddhism, it became independent after World War II. Adjacent to the temple is a Shinto shrine, the Asakusa Shrine.

Photograph taken during the Independence Day celebrations in Burma. Dated 20th Century

Burmese Priests 'Poongyes' Description: Burmese Priests 'Poongyes'. Location: Rangoon, Burma Date: 1907 burma, philipklier

Pilgrim Going Up Fujiyama. Kusakabe Kimbei (Japanese, 1841 - 1934)

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, better known as Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) is the largest city in Vietnam. It was once known as Prey Nokor, an important Khmer sea port prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. In 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Hồ Chí Minh City after Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam's great wartime leader (although the name Sài Gòn is still commonly used). The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,090 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

Temple Gods. Temple Gods

A little Japanese maiden - A Christmas Greetings card Date: 1905

Known to the central Siamese as the Lao States at the turn of the 20th century, the northern region of what is now Thailand was an independent region known as the Lanna kingdom. The main city, Chiang Mai, was built in 1296 by King Mengrai. The city was abandoned in 1776 91 due to Burmese invasions, but became an acknowledged part of Siam around the same time. The north was linked to Bangkok only by river, a journey which could take some six months, until in 1922, a railway was completed which connected Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Chinese muleteers were known to the Burmese as Panthay, and to the Thai and Lao as Haw or Chin Haw. They were - and to some extent still are - the masters of the Golden Triangle. Yunnanese Chinese muleteers have for several centuries been the traders of the 'Golden Triangle' formed by the junction between Burma, China, Laos and Thailand. Travelling as far afield as Moulmein in Burma, Chengdu in China, Luang Prabang in Laos, Chiang Mai in Thailand and Lhasa in Tibet, they have long been indomitable caravan masters and today continue to thrive in motorized long distance commerce.

Offering to the Gods Description: "An offering to the Gods, Peking China." Photograph taken by Herbert Ponting (1870-1935). Date: c.1907 china, offering, gods, peking, herbertponting, copy1

'A Buddhist Priest and Praying-Wheel', 1910. Creator: Herbert Ponting.

Coptic monks 1898, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Services in Memory of Baron Matsuda, Seishoji Temple, Shiba, Tokyo

The Karen or Kayin people (Pwa Ka Nyaw Poe or Kanyaw in Sgaw Karen and Ploan in Poe Karen; Kariang or Yang in Thai), are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma (Myanmar). The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people. A large number of Karen also reside in Thailand, mostly on the Thai-Burmese border. The Karen are often confused with the Red Karen (or Karenni). One subgroup of the Karenni, the Padaung tribe from the border region of Burma and Thailand, are best known for the neck rings worn by the women of this group of people. Karen legends refer to a 'river of running sand' which ancestors reputedly crossed. Many Karen think this refers to the Gobi Desert, although they have lived in Burma for centuries. The Karen constitute the biggest ethnic population in Burma after the Bamars and Shans.

Korea. Korea, Frank and Frances Carpenter Collection , Caption card tracings: Relig. groups Buddhists 1910-1920; Costume - Korea; Korea Misc. 1910-1920; Shelf.

Korean convert of American Bible Society seated

Perhaps at Lama Temple. Perhaps at Lama Temple

Japan: 'A Fighting Monk of the Kamakura Era'. Chemigraph from series 'Military Costumes in Old Japan' by Kazumasa Ogawa (1860-1929), 1893, Tokyo. Ogawa Kazumasa, also known as Ogawa Kazuma or Ogawa Isshin, was a Japanese photographer, chemigrapher, printer and publisher of the Meiji era. He was a pioneer in photomechanical printing and photography, and was born into the Matsudaira samurai clan, where he studied English and photography at the age of 15.

Two Coptic clergymen in assigned to the Eritrean askaras and their interpreter, Benghazi, Libya, photograph by E Chiavamonte, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XL, No 46, November 16, 1913.

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua, or Rama IV, better known as King Mongkut (18 October 1804 1 October 1868), was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868. He was one of the most revered monarchs of the country. During his reign, the pressure of Western expansionism was felt for the first time in Siam. Mongkut embraced Western innovations and initiated the modernization of Siam, both in technology and culture-earning him the nickname 'The Father of Science and Technology' in Siam. Mongkut was also known for his appointment of his brother, Prince Chutamani, as vice-king. Prince Chutamani was crowned in 1851 as King Pinklao. Mongkut himself assured the country that Pinklao should be respected with equal honor to himself. Mongkut's reign was also the time when the power of the House of Bunnag reached its zenith and became the most powerful noble family of Siam.

Oiran () were the courtesans of Edo period Japan. The oiran were considered a type of yujo () 'woman of pleasure' or prostitute. However, they were distinguished from the yujo in that they were entertainers, and many became celebrities of their times outside the pleasure districts. Their art and fashions often set trends among the wealthy and, because of this, cultural aspects of oiran traditions continue to be preserved to this day. The oiran arose in the Edo period (1600-1868). At this time, laws were passed restricting brothels to walled districts set some distance from the city center. In the major cities these were the Shimabara in Kyoto, the Shinmachi in Osaka, and the Yoshiwara in Edo (present-day Tokyo). These rapidly grew into large, self-contained 'pleasure quarters' offering all manner of entertainments. Within, a courtesan’s birth rank held no distinction, which was fortunate considering many of the courtesans originated as the daughters of impoverished families who wer

An Indonesian lady decorates fabric using Batik technique at Djokja, (Java) Indonesia. Date: circa 1960

An exorcism by Buddhist ritual of an evil spirit from an elderly man. Korea, c1890

Matsuoka Pays Respect -- Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka, who returned from his trip in Europe yesterday afternoon, was taken at the Meiji Shrine, as paid his respect and reported his return to the spirit of the grand Emperor of Meiji. April 22, 1941. (Photo by The Domei News Photos Service).

1930s TWO FEMALE TRADITIONAL SIAMESE CLASSICAL DANCERS WEARING ELABORATE COSTUMES AND HEADPIECES PERFORMING IN BANGKOK THAILAND

In Korea the drumming of traditional ironing sticks was traditionally considered a joyful sound, a symbol of a secure home life. Two women knelt on the floor, facing each other across a smoothing stone or tatumi-tol, a pangmangi club in each hand, beating out a rhythm on the cloth. A Korean tatumi-tol granite or marble block was a valued family possession, perhaps with carved decoration, especially on the underside, so the design was visible when it was stored upside down to protect the smooth top. Ironing with pangmangi clubs requires skillful co-ordination and partnership.

Mahatma Gandhi with classmate Sheikh Mehtab at Rajkot, Gujarat, India, Asia, 1883 India Copyright: xJayanxMitra/DinodiaxPhotox -

Nagasaki. On the shamisen musician Geishas during a musical performance on a stage to reception of the Majores of the city

Ourga, Mongolia a lama in front of a prayer mill , 1913 - Mongolia - Stéphane Passet - (July 6-25) (French - Ourga , Mongolie Un lama devant un moulin à prières). Religious habit, costume, yurt, Buddhism of Tibetan rite, religious practice, exists in high definition, object of worship, prayer mill, religious or votive inscription, Habillement , Religion , HD , Inscription , information, Ourga, Lama in front of a prayer mill

Korean noble in full dress

Tsar Nicholas II and empress Alexandra in coronation robes, Russia 1894

Photograph of a Western traveller with a Korean labourer, resting by statues at the Yi Dynasty King's tombs. Dated 1905

Vintage Photograph. Burma woman praying before Temple with dogs sleeping nearby, Burma

The Great Buddha of Kamakura.Japan - Religion. November 3, 1952.

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