China, the land of coolies and rice

China, the land of mosquitoes and lice

Where a few other things are not so nice

Where they stop a war for a holiday

Where everything is done in the opposite way

Where weddings are sad and funerals glad

China the land of stink

Where the water is not fit to drink

Where the grub gives your innards a kink

China, the land of war and strife

Where killing is done with a knife

China where a dollar will buy you a wife

That’s China

 -Sgt John F. Kohn, USMC c.1928

 

 

Regardless of what you might think of Sgt Kohn ode to China, most Marines were captivated by the country and at some point during their China cruise focused their cameras on the architecture, diverse population, and local activities they encountered.  Many times when I acquired a collection of photos taken by a China Marine I’ve found they recorded to some degree the local population and the wonders of China’s varied landscape.  This section is dedicated to displaying some of those images documenting a China long since disappeared. Alongside the photo documentation of Peking and Shanghai Marines tried and photograph its people.  Although few Marines possessed their own cameras during the early years of the twentieth century, the availability of commercially produced images bought locally allowed the average Marine to bring home a visual record of China.  With the 1920’s however the affordability of the personnel camera gave many Marines the opportunity to record for themselves the day to day activities of China.  When combined with organized sightseeing trips it is no surprise these private glimpses of China are found in almost all Marines albums of the era.  Another point on the Marine’s relationship with the local population: through their writings and photographs you can see a number of them developed a real affection for Chinese kids.  Frequently these children would follow the Marines when they marched into the countryside or at camp.  In turn, the Marines would give them clothing, candy or food even at the risk of being court-martialed if caught.  After World War II Marine units unofficially adopted a number of orphans, gave them uniforms and “rank”, educated and fed them. 

 

Peking countryside, c. 1938.

  

A study of six men, Peking 1901.

 

 

 

 

Street performer, Peking, c. 1908.

 

 

A Peking Tea House, c. 1914.

A funeral. 

 

 

 The view from the Chien Men Gate Tower.

 

A rickshaw riders view of Peking

Line of rickshaws, location unknown.

 

 

Peking street scene, c. 1910.

 

 

A camel train outside of Peking

 

Train arriving at Peking, c.1908.

 

 

Peking Railroad Station 

 

The Porcelain Pagoda, near the Summer Palace

 

Sanpans at Chefoo

 

 Five Tower Pagoda

 

 

Preparing a sedan chair

 

Riding at the Ming Tombs

 

Northern Ming Tombs, c. 1908.

 

 

Marines at Stone Gate, Nankow Pass, c. 1908.

 

River traffic on the Wangpoo River with the Shanghai skyline in the background

The Princess Tombs, Peking. c. 1938

 For views along the Yangtze River click here.