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Buddhist Priest

Attributed to John Thomson (Scottish, 1837 - 1921)
Dateca. 1870
MediumAlbumen print
DimensionsImage and sheet: 3 7/16 × 2 1/8 inches (8.69 × 5.41 cm)
Mount: 4 1/8 × 2 7/16 inches (10.49 × 6.15 cm)
Credit LineGift of the Hall Family Foundation
Object number2015.67.67
Signednone
InscribedPrinted captions on paper, attached to mount verso, in black type: "Buddhist Priest. / An American writer on Chinese Social / life thus describes these Priests. -- / [¶] "They shave off the hair from their / heads two or three times per month, so / that their pates are perfectly smooth. -- / From this circumstance arises the ex- / pression bald headed asses [italics] which some- / times is derisively applied to them. -- / many of them, perhaps all who are / regularly educated at a monastery, have / several places or spots on their pates, / burnt with coals of fire in such a man- / ner that the hair never grows there / again. Only an Abbott is entitled to / perform this ceremony".-- / [¶] The costume of the Buddhist priests / is quite different, as regards color and / fashion, from that of the common people, / the coat is distinguished by its having a / very wide turn over collar--When they / officiate they usually dress in yellow, / at other times they commonly wear gar- / ments of an ash color, though some- / times white.--"
Markingsnone
On View
Not on view
Collections
DescriptionHand colored image of priest dressed in long robe with wide collar, side closure, and wide sleeves. He is standing with his hands clasped next to table.
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