Exposure of severed heads of alleged perpetrators of Kucheng massacre

Title : Exposure of severed heads of alleged perpetrators of Kucheng massacre

Topic : J.C. Oswald collection

Year : 1895

Location : Unknown

Date (start) : 1895

Nature : B&W Photo

Support image : Paper

Caption on print : Vegetarian Heads at Wha Shan.

Information data : University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: Os04-083. Photo from an album (UoB reference Os04) kept in the School of Oriental and African Studies Archives, London (SOAS reference MS 380 876/4). No caption in the album for this photo, but reversed out of the negative is the caption: “Vegetarian Heads at Wha Shan.” Photo shows five receptacles (presumably containing the heads of executed men) hanging high in a pine tree. Wha Shan = Hwa Shan (Huashan). Related to 1 August 1895 killings of 11 missionaries and Chinese Christians at Kucheng (Gutian Huashan, Fujian Province) by the 'Vegetarian' rebels.

Keywords : Oswald;criminals;punishment;decapitation;forest;missionary