Large-format albumen photograph depicting the interior of the Temple of the Five Hundred Genii (Luohan Temple) in Canton, one of the most important Buddhist sites documented in 19th-century China photography. The view is taken from the central axis of the hall, presenting a symmetrical composition with long rows of seated luohan figures extending toward a distant altar. The repetition of sculptural forms, paired with the strong linear perspective of the tiled floor and ceiling beams, creates a striking sense of depth and architectural order.

Photographs of temple interiors of this scale were produced in limited numbers due to technical and cultural constraints, requiring long exposures, large cameras, and rare access to sacred spaces. This image belongs to a documented commercial series made for the Western export market, intended for collectors and institutions assembling visual surveys of China. The printed bilingual caption below the image reads “No. 317. A View of the interior of the Temple of Five Hundred Genii in Canton,” with Chinese characters above, indicating standardized cataloging consistent with mid- to late-19th-century Canton studios.

Large albumen prints of this subject on original mounts are scarce, with most surviving examples encountered as stereographs or reduced-format prints. Full-size mounted examples are primarily held in institutional collections, and comparatively few have appeared on the market. The present photograph exemplifies the most ambitious category of export-era Chinese architectural photography, combining documentary clarity with a highly controlled and formal composition.