Among the Pilgrims at Emei Shan

The black and white photograph depicts a serene landscape featuring trees and mountains, with the roof of a temple-like structure visible in the background. This image was likely captured by Count Karl von Luxburg during one of his travels throughout China.

During his two stays in China, Count Karl took advantage of his travels to deepen his understanding of the country, its culture, and its people. One notable trip was at the invitation of Sun Baoqi (1867-1931), who served as the Chinese ambassador to Germany in 1907 before becoming the governor of Shandong province in 1909. Count Karl also acquired several East Asian works of art during his journeys throughout China.

This photograph of a landscape was likely captured during a lengthy journey that took Count Karl to the vicinity of Tibet in 1911. Accompanied by an employee and a cook, he visited Mount Emei Shan, one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. In his autobiography, Count Karl recounts the ascent of the mountain and the various pilgrims he encountered along the way.