The establishment of the Sea King Village Park (Haiwang cun gongyuan) at the eastern end of Liulichang Street in 1917 created a vibrant New Year market centre in Haiwang Village. The annual fair was held from the first to the fifteenth of the first lunar month. According to local tradition, during the Liao dynasty, around 977, a person who was given the nickname 'Sea King' lived in the area and controlled the boats that carried grain across the many creeks that once passed through the village (Arlington, LC & Lewisohn, W. 'In search of Old Peking', Oxford University Press New York, 1987).

This is one of a large number of photographs that were taken by Hedda Morrison (1908-1991) during her years of residence in Peking (Beijing), China 1933-1946.

Photograph, 'Chinese New Year painting and calligraphy stall, Haiwang Village, east of Liulichang', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946.

The image shows three men wearing hats and padded robes standing in front of an outdoor stall viewing a Chinese painting hanging from a wall.

Photographer: Morrison, Hedda; Beijing, China

Maker: unknown; 1933 - 1946

92/1414-224

339 mm

286 mm