PHOTOS: One Man's Portraits Show How Much China Has Changed

By Ryan Kilpatrick

Since the day he turned 27, Fuzhou businessman Ye Jinglu had a portrait taken of himself every year until his death in 1968.

The collection of photographs, recently acquired by collector Tong Bingxue, reflect one man's life against the backdrop of a constantly changing China. 

From his first picture replete with the mandatory Manchu braid, the subject dons Western garb, cuts his queue after the Qing Dynasty is overthrown, and goes through the tumultuous journey of Republican China wearing scholar's robes and Tang jackets before putting on a Lenin cap to fit into Mao's 'New China.'

 1907 

 1909 

 1912 

 1916 

 1920 

 1924 

 1925 

 1932 

 1935 

 1938 

 1941 

 1949 

 1950 

 1953 

 1955 

 1959 

 1964 

 1968 

[Images via Hyperallergic] 

To see China's best photos of the year, click "Read more" below.