Despite the ambiguous caption—"A Group of Thibetan Musicians"—the history behind this anonymous photograph is remarkably well-documented. Taken by Robert Phillips before 1873, we see a gathering of the resident lamas at Sangchen Thongdrol Ling, a Nyingma monastery in Darjeeling. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

Despite the ambiguous caption—"A Group of Thibetan Musicians"—the history behind this anonymous photograph is remarkably well-documented. Taken by Robert Phillips before 1873, we see a gathering of the resident lamas at Sangchen Thongdrol Ling, a Nyingma monastery in Darjeeling. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

The Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) fueled Western demand for new images of a rapidly modernizing Japan. Among the companies meeting this demand was H. C. White, which issued boxed stereoview sets of Japan highlighting both its cultural traditions and signs of modern progress. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

The Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) fueled Western demand for new images of a rapidly modernizing Japan. Among the companies meeting this demand was H. C. White, which issued boxed stereoview sets of Japan highlighting both its cultural traditions and signs of modern progress. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

In this behind-the-scenes photo from The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), MGM's workshop prepares towering Buddhist statues for use as set design. Despite present-day associations with peace, art director Cedric Gibbons relied on this monumental Buddhist imagery to evoke mystery and danger. 🧵 🗃️ #filmsky

In this behind-the-scenes photo from The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), MGM's workshop prepares towering Buddhist statues for use as set design. Despite present-day associations with peace, art director Cedric Gibbons relied on this monumental Buddhist imagery to evoke mystery and danger. 🧵 🗃️ #filmsky

At the turn of the 20th century, tourists entering British Burma on a steamer would have looked down the Rangoon River to see the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in the far distance. Myanmar’s most sacred Buddhist site, the pagoda stands 112 m (367 ft) tall and dominates the Yangon skyline. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Myanmar

At the turn of the 20th century, tourists entering British Burma on a steamer would have looked down the Rangoon River to see the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in the far distance. Myanmar’s most sacred Buddhist site, the pagoda stands 112 m (367 ft) tall and dominates the Yangon skyline. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Myanmar

The first Tibetan Buddhist monks came to Europe amid the surge of interest over attempts to summit Mt. Everest in the 1920s. Capitalizing on this excitement, a promoter in Darjeeling recruited men to pose as Tibetan cham dancers for the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

The first Tibetan Buddhist monks came to Europe amid the surge of interest over attempts to summit Mt. Everest in the 1920s. Capitalizing on this excitement, a promoter in Darjeeling recruited men to pose as Tibetan cham dancers for the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

Founded in the 10th century, Zenpō-ji, a Sōtō Zen monastery, is renowned for the protective prayers its resident priests chant each day. The temple is also famous for its remarkable collection of more than five hundred Arhat statues, each carved with a distinct facial expression. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

Founded in the 10th century, Zenpō-ji, a Sōtō Zen monastery, is renowned for the protective prayers its resident priests chant each day. The temple is also famous for its remarkable collection of more than five hundred Arhat statues, each carved with a distinct facial expression. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

Decades before Godzilla, the 1934 "monster" film, The Great Buddha Arrival, featured a costumed actor as a giant Buddha roaming through a miniature city. The figure was based on the recently completed Shūrakuen Daibutsu, a colossal statue erected in 1927 near Nagoya. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan #聚楽園大仏

Decades before Godzilla, the 1934 "monster" film, The Great Buddha Arrival, featured a costumed actor as a giant Buddha roaming through a miniature city. The figure was based on the recently completed Shūrakuen Daibutsu, a colossal statue erected in 1927 near Nagoya. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan #聚楽園大仏

By the 1880s, Chinese American temples were sufficiently familiar to the public imagination to serve as an effective visual basis for political satire. Yet, however, the imagery was often not rooted in ethnographic realism; it remained a caricature of Western fantasy. 🗃️ 📜 #Chinatown

By the 1880s, Chinese American temples were sufficiently familiar to the public imagination to serve as an effective visual basis for political satire. Yet, however, the imagery was often not rooted in ethnographic realism; it remained a caricature of Western fantasy. 🗃️ 📜 #Chinatown

Selected another 36 entires for the fourth series of posts of artifact mini-studies. Also have a new exhibit up, details coming soon... See ya'll Monday. 🙌 🙏 📜

Victorian trade cards often employed the same visual language found in contemporary political cartoons. In the late 1870s and 1880s, as anti-Chinese xenophobia intensified in the US, depictions of the “heathen Chinee” prostrating before Buddhist idols became more widespread. 🧵 🗃️ 📜

Victorian trade cards often employed the same visual language found in contemporary political cartoons. In the late 1870s and 1880s, as anti-Chinese xenophobia intensified in the US, depictions of the “heathen Chinee” prostrating before Buddhist idols became more widespread. 🧵 🗃️ 📜

In 1911, to promote efforts of American missionaries abroad, an arm of the missions board sponsored a massive traveling exhibit of the world's religions. The "Japan Scene" was dominated by a replica of a Buddhist temple, traveling from Boston to Cincinnati and elsewhere. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Cincinnati

In 1911, to promote efforts of American missionaries abroad, an arm of the missions board sponsored a massive traveling exhibit of the world's religions. The "Japan Scene" was dominated by a replica of a Buddhist temple, traveling from Boston to Cincinnati and elsewhere. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Cincinnati

In 1903, a titan of world postcard production, England-based Raphael Tuck & Sons, set themselves further apart by issuing the vibrantly colored Oilette Series based on commissioned oil paintings. Among the first sets released was devoted to the mysterious Himalayan nation of Tibet. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

In 1903, a titan of world postcard production, England-based Raphael Tuck & Sons, set themselves further apart by issuing the vibrantly colored Oilette Series based on commissioned oil paintings. Among the first sets released was devoted to the mysterious Himalayan nation of Tibet. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

While temple visitors might view Buddhist images as immovable fixtures, Meiji-era photography reveals the remarkable portability of Buddhist icons. Here we see a pair of Japanese pilgrims with their portable shrine traveling through Nikko, a sign of Buddhist faith on the move. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

While temple visitors might view Buddhist images as immovable fixtures, Meiji-era photography reveals the remarkable portability of Buddhist icons. Here we see a pair of Japanese pilgrims with their portable shrine traveling through Nikko, a sign of Buddhist faith on the move. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

Due to the US extension of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1892, the Chinese Qing Empire withdrew from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This created the opportunity for local Chinese Chicagoans to build a Chinese Theatre and Joss House as an amusement concession. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Chicago

Due to the US extension of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1892, the Chinese Qing Empire withdrew from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This created the opportunity for local Chinese Chicagoans to build a Chinese Theatre and Joss House as an amusement concession. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Chicago

American escapist films grew in prominence during the Depression Era 1930s and Frank Capra’s 1937 film, Lost Horizon, was an important Buddhist entry to this genre. The early 20th century romantic imagery of Tibet helped raise interest in the film's Himalayan utopia of Shangri-la. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

American escapist films grew in prominence during the Depression Era 1930s and Frank Capra’s 1937 film, Lost Horizon, was an important Buddhist entry to this genre. The early 20th century romantic imagery of Tibet helped raise interest in the film's Himalayan utopia of Shangri-la. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

In the midst of a growing Pacific War, the young Republic of China withdrew from the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1933. Private individual ensured China's symbolic presence, however, with local Chinatown businessmen erecting two giant pagodas for the “Streets of Shanghai” concession. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Chicago

In the midst of a growing Pacific War, the young Republic of China withdrew from the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1933. Private individual ensured China's symbolic presence, however, with local Chinatown businessmen erecting two giant pagodas for the “Streets of Shanghai” concession. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Chicago

Sitting on the south bank of the river Loire, construction finished at the Château de Chanteloup in 1778 on an imposing new edifice, a seven-story Chinese-style pagoda. Built by a once-exiled French army officer, the pagoda at Chanteloup remains one of the few remnants of the palace.🧵 🗃️ 📜 #France

Sitting on the south bank of the river Loire, construction finished at the Château de Chanteloup in 1778 on an imposing new edifice, a seven-story Chinese-style pagoda. Built by a once-exiled French army officer, the pagoda at Chanteloup remains one of the few remnants of the palace.🧵 🗃️ 📜 #France

Sitting atop the southern end of Mount Penn, a seven-story wooden pagoda has overlooked Reading, Pennsylvania, since 1908. Built as part of a luxury resort, the building and land were donated to the city in 1911, making this Buddhist-inspired building a symbol of the city. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Pennsylvania

Sitting atop the southern end of Mount Penn, a seven-story wooden pagoda has overlooked Reading, Pennsylvania, since 1908. Built as part of a luxury resort, the building and land were donated to the city in 1911, making this Buddhist-inspired building a symbol of the city. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Pennsylvania

For anyone attending the #AARSBL in Boston, come see the Buddhas in the West Pop-Up Exhibit this Saturday at CGIS S050 at Harvard University. We look at the early European depictions of the Buddha and Buddhist monks from the 1660s to 1850s. 🗃️ 📜 #Buddhasinthewest

For anyone attending the #AARSBL in Boston, come see the Buddhas in the West Pop-Up Exhibit this Saturday at CGIS S050 at Harvard University. We look at the early European depictions of the Buddha and Buddhist monks from the 1660s to 1850s. 🗃️ 📜 #Buddhasinthewest

By the 1890s it was possible to browse American newspapers and see advertisements for informal lectures on countries around the world. Occupying church halls or town theaters, returning travelers often used “magic lantern” slides to illustrate their captivating travel narratives. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

By the 1890s it was possible to browse American newspapers and see advertisements for informal lectures on countries around the world. Occupying church halls or town theaters, returning travelers often used “magic lantern” slides to illustrate their captivating travel narratives. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

The first 108 Buddhas in the West posts are now archived, tagged, and easy to browse! 🔍 🗺 Thank you to everyone for the support! 🙏 👉 tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87

By the early 20th century there was an unofficial race to capture a photograph of Lhasa, the religious center of Tibet. In 1905 National Geographic printed a few of the first photos of the region and a decade later, in 1916, published a large panoramic insert of Lhasa's Potala Palace. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

By the early 20th century there was an unofficial race to capture a photograph of Lhasa, the religious center of Tibet. In 1905 National Geographic printed a few of the first photos of the region and a decade later, in 1916, published a large panoramic insert of Lhasa's Potala Palace. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Tibet

The Japanese port city of Kobe was a major tourist hub by the turn of the 20th century. One of the city’s main attractions was a giant statue of Vairocana Buddha displayed outside the main temple gate of Shinkōji until the complex was destroyed during WWII. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan #真光寺

The Japanese port city of Kobe was a major tourist hub by the turn of the 20th century. One of the city’s main attractions was a giant statue of Vairocana Buddha displayed outside the main temple gate of Shinkōji until the complex was destroyed during WWII. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan #真光寺

In the 17th century, to uncover suspected Christians, Japanese authorities in Nagasaki forced commoners to step on an image of Jesus or Mary. As knowledge of this practice spread to Europe, depictions of "treading on the crucifix," appeared in illustrated works by the 18th century. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

In the 17th century, to uncover suspected Christians, Japanese authorities in Nagasaki forced commoners to step on an image of Jesus or Mary. As knowledge of this practice spread to Europe, depictions of "treading on the crucifix," appeared in illustrated works by the 18th century. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Japan

The first photos of Saigon, present-day Ho Chi Minh City, were taken by French naval officers during the 1858 French invasion. The first commercial photography studios in Vietnam opened in Saigon soon afterwards, with some producing intimate views of local Buddhist temple life. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Vietnam

The first photos of Saigon, present-day Ho Chi Minh City, were taken by French naval officers during the 1858 French invasion. The first commercial photography studios in Vietnam opened in Saigon soon afterwards, with some producing intimate views of local Buddhist temple life. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Vietnam

The Golden Age of Hollywood expanded the theatrical tradition of set design to create a more immersive world on screen. Through the 1920s studio art directors built bigger sets and fine Buddhist statuary that was once purchased or borrowed was increasingly made of wood and plaster. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #Hollywood

By the turn of the 20th century advertising cards were sought-after collectables, often pasted alongside other printed ephemera inside scrap books. The main visual language was the stereotype, and places like Japan were depicted as a mélange of mystery, pagodas, and odd idols. 🧵 🗃️ 📜 #France #Japan