Fujian, province, China: a pailou (memorial arch) dedicated to a virtuous widow. Photograph by John Thomson, 1870-1871.

An arch in front of a wall. A standing woman leaning on the arch. A shrine set into the wall behind the arch

A pailou, or ornamental memorial arch, set up in memory of the noble deeds or virtues of the deceased. In imperial China it could only be erected with special permission from the emperor. In general, if a wealthy man had done something remarkable, he might during his lifetime erect a pailou for himself at his own expense. A virtuous widow, however, who had reached the age of 50 without remarrying might be permitted to erect an arch to commemorate her life, and the imperial treasury would allow her a small sum to do so. This type of pailou can commonly be seen in rural China, in particular the area between Fujian, Zhejiang and Jianxi. The practice is thought to have begun in the 11th century with the emergence of neo-Confucianism. According to Cheng Yi (1033–1107), a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar, it was better for a widow to starve to death than to remarry.

1871

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion : stereograph

Widows (places?) of memorial arch Bears Thomson's negative number: "552"

This is one of a collection of original glass negatives made by John Thomson. The negatives, made between 1868 and 1872, were purchased from Thomson by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1921

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 116 (reproduced)

Wellcome Collection 19356i