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Strolling beggars in China with burning coals
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Strolling beggars in China with burning coals
Strolling beggars in China laying burning coals on their heads and using other austerities in order to extort alms. Date: 1752
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Media ID 20141097
© Bubblepunk
1750s 1752 Alms Austerities Beggar Beggars Begging Burning Coals Desperate Desperation Heads Laying Money Pain Painful Pigtail Pity Putting Strolling Vagrant Vagrants Racial
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This evocative image captures the stark reality of strolling beggars in China during the 1750s. The photograph, taken in the year 1752, depicts a group of Asian, specifically Chinese, beggars engaging in the painful practice of laying burning coals on their heads as a means to extort alms from passersby. The intense heat and smoke emanating from the coals would have elicited feelings of pity and sympathy from onlookers, often resulting in generous donations. The beggars, with their shaved heads and long pigtails, represent the desperate and downtrodden members of Chinese society during this era. Their austere appearance and willingness to endure such physical pain served as a stark reminder of the harsh living conditions and widespread poverty that existed in China during this time. The image also highlights the cultural and racial differences that existed between the East and the West during the 18th century. The use of austerities and begging as a means of survival was a common practice in Asian societies, particularly in China, but would have been unfamiliar and perhaps even shocking to European audiences. Despite the discomfort and pain they endured, the beggars in this photograph were part of a larger community of vagrants who relied on the generosity of others to survive. Their presence on the streets served as a constant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of compassion and empathy towards those in need.
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