盖洛昭通印象及其文化价值

William Geil's impression of Chaotung and its cultural value

威廉.盖洛是20世纪初西方颇负盛名的美国旅行家和英国皇家地理学会会员。1903年他从上海启程,沿长江到重庆,然后步行到达昭通。在他的游记和镜头下,对昭通百年前的城墙、城市街道、寺庙状况、信仰习俗以及外国人在昭通的活动等等,都有生动的揭示,篇幅虽然不长,数量虽然不多,但也因此显得更加珍贵,保存了地方史志中难以见到的生活影像,充满浓厚的生活气息。尤其是百年后当中国社会翻天覆地、城市面貌也早已面目全非以后,这些细节就变得格外重要,也使其游记别有一种特殊的价值。

William Edgar Geil was a prestigious American traveler and the member of the British Royal Geographical Society in the early 20th century. In 1903, he departured from Shanghai to Chongqing along the Yangtze River, and then reached chaotung on foot. There were vivid revealed in his travels and lens about the city walls, city streets, the shape of temples, religious beliefs and customs as well as the foreigners＇ activities in chaotung hundred years ago. Although the text about chaotung was not long on the length, but it also became more precious as the literature saved the image of people＇s life that filled with strong flavor was different from that record in local chronicles. Hundred years later, when the earth-shaking change have taken place in China, the urban landscape have already changed dramatically, the special value of Geil＇s travels and old photos also become very important.