1928 Glass Slides taken of Chinese Paifang or Pailou that are found throughout China; this was photographed in 1926 and is on a glass slide called a magic latern slide.

I do not know the location of this Paifang or Pailou that I believed was in China. The American missionaries taught in Japan at the Doshisha (College) University in 1928. In this period Manchukuo was a Japanese puppet state and there is a possibility it was there that the photographs were taken. It has beautiful and exquisite carvings and small sculptures along with many chineses characters on the hashira vertical post. The photograph were taken in what looks like a desolated area and has the most exquisite carvings. I can make out sculptured rabbits on the fence post. I am hoping someone can read some of the characters on the hashira (large vertical wood post) and enlighten me. The hashira holds up the kasagi (roof) of the Paifang. The nuki (horizonal post under the Kasagi) has been carved with heavenly carvings. It is difficult to make them out in these photo’s, but when examimed with a loupe one can see beautiful detail that I wish I could duplicate.

This form of paifang, were built mainly on religious and burial grounds. They consists of plain white stone pillars and beams, with neither roof tiles nor any coloured decoration, but feature elaborate carvings created by master mason. I have searched to find where it is located and have not been able to find it’s location. The chinese man with the turban is pictured in other glass slides I have, as are the American missionaries from the Doshisha University. He is probably wearing the turban to conceal his pigtail. Sadly the image below is the best view I have, for the black edge at top is the end of the photograph.