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Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - LOIR ET CHER (41) - CASTLE OF BLOIS : MONUMENTAL STAIRCASE WITH SCREW, INTERIOR. "EXCAVATED LIKE AN IVORY FROM CHINA" ACCORDING TO BALZAC, COVERED WITH FINE RENAISSANCE SCULPTURES, ITALIANATE ORNAMENTS (STATUES, BALUSTERS, CANDELABRAS) AND ROYAL EMBLEMS (SALAMANDERS, CROWNS, "F" FOR FRANCOIS I, "C" FOR CLAUDE FROM FRANCE), IT OPENS BETWEEN THE BUTTRESSES BY LARGE BAYS ON THE COURTYARD OF THE CASTLE. ITS SLOPING, HELICALLY SHAPED VAULT, SUPPORTED BY EXTERNAL RECTANGULAR BUTTRESSES, MAKES IT A RECURRING SYMBOL OF FRENCH ARCHITECTURE IN THE RENAISSANCE AND HERALDS THE INNOVATIONS OF THE TIME ON STAIRCASE ARCHITECTURE, WHICH BECOME, MORE THAN FUNCTIONAL ELEMENT, A MAJOR AESTHETIC ADDITION. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The Inner Golden River is seen inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Rainwater is spilt from gargoyles in the shape of Chi, a legendary dragon in Chinese culture, inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A shoal of koi carp swim in the Inner Golden River inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A journalist works in rainfall inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Rainwater is spilt from gargoyles in the shape of Chi, a legendary dragon in Chinese culture, inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The Forbidden City is seen in rainfall in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Rainwater is spilt from gargoyles in the shape of Chi, a legendary dragon in Chinese culture, inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

CHINA-BEIJING-THE FORBIDDEN CITY-DRAINAGE SYSTEM-RAINSTORMS WITHSTANDING (CN)

(230731) -- BEIJING, July 31, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The Forbidden City is seen in rainfall in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2023. As the city of Beijing was hit by rainstorms in recent days, the Forbidden City remained free of flooding thanks to the sound drainage system. The system, first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), still retains ancient rain ditches adding up to 15 kilometers in length, 13 kilometers of which are hidden. All those ditches lead to the Inner Golden River connected to the surrounding moat outside the Forbidden City as well as the Outer Golden River and the Zhonghai-Nanhai water systems. The foundation of the Forbidden City follows the sloping terrain of Beijing, which is higher in the north and lower in the south. It is also higher along the central axis and lower on both wings, which is ideal for natural drainage. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

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The People of Okunoto

The people of Okunoto. Farmers build thousand paddy fields. Fishermen, who do not have a fishing port, make salt in pumping salt fields. There are also migrant workers and peddlers.   The people of Okunoto, despite the rough seas of the Sea of Japan and the poverty of their half-farming, half-fishing existence, build Senmaida rice paddies (paddies built on sloping land), people make salt the old-fashioned way, the last of the Agehama salt paddies where salt is pumped with labor, the cutting down of Asunaro forests, a tribe of fishermen turned plasterers, women peddling fish, and women peddling fish and vegetables at the morning market in Iida. Women peddling fish, women peddling fish and vegetables at the morning market in Iida, a general merchandise market held in each village  before winter preparations, and women leaving for Kansai in search of work before winter. The film was shot on an unknown date, and was released on November 4, 1960.

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The hundred-step Otokozaka slope at Mt. Atago

The hundred-step Otokozaka slope at Mt. Atago

The stone stairs leading to Atago Shinto Shrine at the top of Mt. Atago. The steps in the centre, Otoko-zaka (Man Slope), are mentioned in old stories and songs as the place where Magaki Heikuro ascended and descended on horseback. The inclination of about 40 degrees seems too steep for a horse. The gently-sloping staircase on the right is Onna-zaka (Woman Slope). There was a third slope called Shin-zaka (New Slope) at the other side of the mountain. One of the photographs in the album sold by Baron Raimund von Stillfried Rathenitz, this may have been taken by Felix Beato in the early years of the Meiji Period.==Date:unknown, Place:Tokyo, Photo:R. Stillfried, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number78‐24‐0]

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Cherry trees at Nogeyama Park

Cherry trees at Nogeyama Park

The caption reads Cherry blossoms, Nogeyama, Yokohama in English. The photo shows the cherry trees in Nogeyama, Yokohama, irrigation channels to the right and left of the sloping road, and a rickshaw man with a lady passenger. The child in the right corner of the photo has a shaved head and wears a kimono.==Date:unknown, Place:Yokohama, Photo:Kusakabe Kinbei, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number2‐27‐0]

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