Twitter Bits: China-Themed Advent Calendar

On the 13th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me / a snow-covered Empress Dowager Cixi

Over in Twitterland we’ve been highly enjoying an “Advent Calendar” of historical and suitably wintry images from China being curated daily by the Scottish Centre for China Research Postgraduate Network. Their latest post is for Day 13, and is one of our favorites:

On day 13 of our #AdventCalendar, Empress Dowager Cixi with attendants, Lady Louisa Pierson (far left) and Princess Deling, 1904. Photo by Xunling (1874-1943), her personal photographer. pic.twitter.com/L5PeW2Nlwq

— China_Researchers (@SCCR_PGN) December 13, 2017

Day 12 was fascinating as well, a rare glimpse at the Helmsman getting his ping pong on in Yan’an, early seat of the Communist Party of China:

On day 12 of our #AdventCalendar, Mao Zedong playing table tennis in Yan'an, 1946. pic.twitter.com/t7Vj71zVOS

— China_Researchers (@SCCR_PGN) December 12, 2017

They’re not just sticking to archival photos; a few days back they posted this iconic still from slow-burning Zhang Yimou classic Raise the Red Lantern:

On day 10 of our #AdventCalendar, a scene from Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimou, 1991. pic.twitter.com/lokXmwkVGm

— China_Researchers (@SCCR_PGN) December 10, 2017

And here’s a barren painted landscape from the Song Dynasty:

Day 9 of #AdventCalendar, Emperor Huizong, Semi Blossom Winter Plum, Song Dynasty. pic.twitter.com/bJnkFyw0Tx

— China_Researchers (@SCCR_PGN) December 9, 2017

It takes a bit of scrolling (the China_Researchers Twitter also collates an academically-inclined selection of China readings from around the web), but it’s worth a look; check it out here.

Cover image: “Fang Dazeng 方大曾 (1912-37), Suiyuan Battlefield (Inner Mongolia), Winter 1936. Fangda was declared missing in 1937. His career is compared to Robert Capa’s.” (source)