The photo archive of temples and artworks by Willem Grootaers for his book 'The sanctuaries in a North-China city', ca. 1942-1948

Dim.: 17,2 x 12,5 cm (the largest photo)
Dim.: 44 x 31 cm (each map)

This archive comprises the research undertaken by Willem Grootaers, a Belgian Scheutist missionary and sinologue, for his publication 'The sanctuaries in a North-China city : a complete survey of the cultic buildings in the city of Hsüan-hua (Chahar)' (link). It contains an impressive archive of 133 photos (not counting the included negatives) of the temples and their artworks in the former city of Xuanhua, now an urban district of Zhangjiakou in northwestern Hebei Province, China. A very instructive overview of the situation before the systematic destruction in later periods. All photos have their captions on the back, as well as their placement info for his publication. Also included are four hand-drawn maps.

Ref.: For an interesting French resumé of this publication, please refer to F. Aubin, Archives de sciences sociales des religions, n°96, 1996. pp. 91-92. (link)