Palaces and Temples

From 1421 to 1928 Peking was the imperial capital of China. At its heart lay the Forbidden City, which was largely built during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). This was surrounded by the Imperial City and the Tartar City which shared a boundary with the Chinese City in the south. Contained by a series of walls, Peking was dotted with mansions, temples, imperial parks and lakes. Much of its character derived from street life in the network of narrow lanes lined with high walls and doorways which concealed courtyard houses. Beyond the city lay imperial retreats, secluded temples and groves of cedar and silver pine trees.

92/1414-330 Photograph, 'Detail of a mural at Fahai Temple', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-198 Photograph, 'A corner of the Forbidden City wall and moat', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-205 Photograph, 'Looking south from Coal Hill over the Forbidden City', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-264 Photograph, 'Looking north from Taihe Gate towards Taihe Hall inside the Forbidden City', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-239 Photograph, 'The Altar of Heaven in moonlight', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946.
92/1414-227 Photograph, 'View through a moon gate from Qionghua Island in Beihai towards the Bell and Drum Towers', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-204 Photograph, 'Looking back to Coal Hill from the wall of the Forbidden City', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-229 Photograph, 'Huazang Pagoda at Jade Spring Hill', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-339 Photograph, 'Ming tombs', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-331 Photograph, 'Kings' tombs on the outskirts of Peking', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946.
92/1414-226 Photograph, 'Stupa within the Yellow Temple', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-237 Photograph, 'Altar of the Daoist Temple Baiyun guan', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-238 Photograph, 'Imperial gateway to the Temple of Heaven', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-230 Photograph, 'Coal Hill after snowfall', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-234 Photograph, 'Pagodas at Jade Spring Hill', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946.
92/1414-263 Photograph, 'Flowering plum blossom at Zhongnan hai', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-269 Photograph, 'Detail of mural painting at Fahai Temple', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-240 Photograph, 'Looking towards the Summer Palace from Yuquan Mountain', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-332 Photograph, 'View to the hills from the Ancestral Hall of the Exalted Brave and Loyal or Eunuch's Temple (Huguo Baozhong si)', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. 92/1414-209 Photograph, 'Pot market outside the north-east gate', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946.