Illustrated News from the Lithography Studio

点石斋画报

As more Chinese came into contact with Westerners at the end of the 19th century, particularly in

Shanghai, new ideas about how information could be shared, presented, and understood develop. One

such idea that came with Westerners was the newspaper. Although Chinese had had periodic

publications, like the Capital Report since the Song dynasty, previous periodicals were generally

government run and merely reprinted memorials not intended for public consumption but nonetheless

were. The newspaper presented information from an independent source specifically for all the public (at

least those literate) to read.

In 1872, an Indian-Scottish businessman in Shanghai, Ernest Major, founded the first Chinese-

language newspaper, The Shenbao (申報). The success of The Shenbao quickly led Major to start several

other major enterprises, particularly in publishing. Among these additional enterprises, was the

Illustrated News from the Lithography Studio (Dianshizhai Huabao), which was founded in 1878. The

Illustrated News from the Lithography Studio was on the cutting edge of technology by even European

standards – it employed a printing technique called lithography, which allowed copies to be produced

cheaply through chemical reactions with ink instead of relying on many skilled craftsmen painstakingly

carving numerous individual wood blocks for each page. At first the Lithography Studio merely copied

British newspapers for expat consumption and occasionally Chinese New Year’s pictures (nianhua) for

Chinese consumers, but with the outbreak of the Sino-French war in 1884, Major decided to take

advantage of the circumstances and boost sales by starting a Chinese-language illustrated newspaper.

Illustrated newspapers were also very popular in Europe and America at the time – something made

possible by lithographic technology. The first two issues, full of pro-Chinese images of Chinese fighting

against the French in Vietnam, were extremely popular and sold out immediately. Eventually, The

Illustrated News from the Lithography Studio, became a regular staple of literate Chinese in late-19th

century treaty-ports of the Qing.

The Illustrated News from the Lithography Studio was released every 10-days and sold for 5 fen.

Each issue generally had eight pages of fully-illustrated articles. Every three months, an extended version

was released, which were often collected. There is disagreement as to who actually read illustrated

newspapers in late-nineteenth century China. Some people claim that only social elites would have

purchased this newspaper, because elites were the only people literate enough and with the economic

means to make a newspaper a meaningless consumption good. Some scholars disagree, claiming that

the pictures could be enjoyed by illiterate people and still be understood. Others also point to the simple

and slightly low-brow classical Chinese used by the newspaper, and the fact that many of the articles

were more like gossipy tabloid articles at times, while at other times discussing ghost stories,

superstitions, and natural oddities that seemed to have appealed to a lower class. The Illustrated News

from the Dianshi Studio, nonetheless, gives us a very original and authentic window into how, at the very

least, some Chinese – albeit a very small segment of Chinese society – viewed the world and their times.

Air Balloon Leaks Air

A Westerner named Xusiguo made a hot air balloon.1 He intended to do a test run at the docks

outside the city walls of Shanghai. He sent out a notice beforehand to invite people to come and watch.

Many people had often heard of this [hot air balloons] from the news, and had long wanted to see one.

Everyone thought it would be spectacle and went there. Unexpectedly, those that came numbered in

the ten-thousand. When the balloon was released, it only flew as high as the eaves of rooftops. Mr. Xu

did not know what to do. [he then] took the rope connected to the balloon and cut it to allow it to

follow the wind. It floated southward, got caught in a tree, stopped, and then the balloon ripped. How

could one sufficiently describe this ripped balloon? Western people are always meticulous in their

actions, whether it be [in making] large devices like cannons and steam boats or the very small like

watches or toys; they produce them with precision and distribute them widely. This test run was done

many times, and was attempted and re-prepared repeatedly. He didn’t seem to have any fears or

concerns and proceeded casually even joking with some of the audience. The next day there was a

rumor that he had refilled [the balloon] and mended it on his own again in the hopes this would gloss

over his humiliation. Afterwards, it was all those people that did not believe in him that spread word of

Xusiguo [of his second attempt]. But when it was reattempted a year later, a new design was developed

1 Xusiguo is a transliteration of the person’s name. It is difficult to say what this person’s real name was in his native language.

to [make it] not fall, but it still failed. It seemed as though he was looking for an explanation to save face,

otherwise his reputation to earn money for his designs amongst the people would in no case succeed

and be in dispute.

Utilizing Bones through Science

Western people hold science2 in high regard, [so much so that they can] transform rotten flesh

into something curiously strange, and make it so that the world no longer has waste. The Daoist cannon

of alchemy3 is without that which can derive something useful from a human corpse. It assists in

extracting an oil and can be used to make a lye powder. These bones can be applied to fields [as

2 The term used here is a bit problematic to translate. The word 格致 refers specifically to an intimate knowledge of the rules and distinctions in nature, but by the end of the Qing it increasingly referred to chemistry, physics, mathematics and mechanics of the West. It is for this reason I use the word “Science,” even though the understanding of a reader at this time would not have been the same as the current reified conception of science today. 3 The term 玉格 is a reference to a Daoist bookshelf, but refers to the Daoist cannon, particularly reference books on alchemy.

fertilizer]. It is said that this was pioneered by a certain chemist in Great Britain, Scotland.4 Indeed it is

for this that in China there is no science that can be spoken of.5 It is known that the body and soul of the

dead demand to be pacified. It is for this reason that the coffin is laid to rest,6 and to not perform

funerary rites is a crime. It is known that the sadistic heart of the greedy is great. It is for this reason that

one who disturbs the dust of a coffin and robs it must be brutally killed. As a fundamental tenant of

teachings and the art of benevolence, it is recorded in the book of laws as a method of governing the

country. Thus how is it that the science of the West can be utilized to govern the country? It is said that

if the remnant ashes of a body are destroyed, then by performing funerary rites one can bless vast

stretches of land, and it is without distinction with farming.7 For large families and poor relatives that

die, the body can be sold. All are able to save [money] and earn a profit. Moreover, the seller of this lye

powder can receive a good price. The ones who works the field can rejoice in repeated bumper harvest.

This is the way to achieve a wealthy country and enriched people. Thus, this is the science of Western

people.

4 I know Great Britain, Scotland is awkward, but that is how the author referred to it. 5 I realize that translating 中國 as China at this period may be a slight stretch as the idea of a nation-state was only beginning to ferment. But I believe within the cosmopolitan environment in Shanghai (particularly the Dianshizhai studio), the concept of China as a distinct nation was nascent enough that a translation as China is sufficient. 6 Actually, 停棺 refers to a practice in which the body is laid in a coffin but is not buried until an appropriate place is found. In the intervening time, depending on regional customs, the coffin is stored in a remote forest, a temple,

shrine, in a courtyard, or a side room in a house. In shanghai, they were often stored in the 會館, hometown association. In this case, instead of coming up with a long explanation, I just made a short translation. 7 I am not too sure what the author meant exactly by this, but it seems he’s suggesting that ashes should be spread over fields as part of funerary rites and that this can also help with growing crops. Or perhaps he’s saying that’s what he heard Westerners did.

An Indian Steals a Watch

India is a dependency of Britain. Their people are tall and dark [skinned]. They are barbaric –

almost as if they are primitive beast. When the Qi first arose, they did not understand rituals and

righteousness, and there was nothing for which they had shame. About ten years ago [in the 1870s],

they were mostly seen in the city [shanghai] as police officers hired by the British, thus these darkies

became established in the concessions, and quickly many arrived. One year, near an Indian police officer

around Hongkou seized a watch from a monk. The Indian police officer was accused [of a crime], but the

charges were later dismissed. To this day many still think this is a rumor, but when you see how

barbarity, it is not hard to imagine [it to be true]. Fortunately they have [British] police chiefs to keep

them under strict control with impartiality. In the middle of March, there two Indians wearing red

turbans that saw a certain gentleman carrying a silver watch heading to the Dangui Theater. At the

entrance, when he pulled out his watch to look at the time, [the Indians] suddenly swiped the watch and

casually walked away as if they did nothing. This gentleman yelled out like a madman and chased after

them all the way to the front of the Hong Garden Tea House. Many Chinese people came out to help,

calling for the police to arrest them so they would be put in prison and punished for their crimes. These

two Indians brazenly held out their stolen goods before everyone. Was this part of their plan to steal?

They are shameless knaves to the utmost, and as far as I see it Indians are immoral.