View of the Summer Palace Yuen Min Yuen, Pekin, Showing the Pagoda Before the Burning, October 1860 1860

This photograph by Felice Beato, taken in October 1860, captures the Summer Palace Yuen Min Yuen in Peking before its destruction. Dominating the landscape is the pagoda, a symbol deeply rooted in Buddhist cosmology. The pagoda's tiered structure mirrors the cosmic mountain, the axis mundi connecting the earthly and celestial realms. This form echoes through time, reminiscent of ziggurats in ancient Mesopotamia, each a symbolic attempt to bridge the gap between humanity and the divine. Notice how the pagoda’s form ascends, guiding the eye upwards and evoking a sense of spiritual aspiration. Such verticality is mirrored in Gothic cathedrals, where spires reach heavenward, embodying a collective yearning for transcendence. This impulse to connect with higher powers is woven into the human psyche. The image serves as a poignant reminder of cultural fragility and the cyclical nature of destruction and rebirth in human history.