Fengtai Photographic Studio
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Photography, Film production |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Founder | Ren Qingtai |
| Defunct | 1909 |
| Headquarters | Beijing , China |
Key people | Ren Qingtai, Liu Zhonglun, Xu Zihe |
| Products | Photography, Peking opera motion pictures |
Fengtai Photography Studio, initiated by Ren Qingtai in Beijing during the Qing dynasty, holds the distinction of being China's inaugural photographic studio as well as the pioneer film production entity in the country. The studio is credited with producing no fewer than eight Peking opera motion pictures, notably including Dingjun Mountain, which is recognized as China's first cinematic work.
Situated close to a glass manufacturing facility in Beijing's southern district, Fengtai ceased operations in 1909 when a fire devastated its photographic apparatus and equipment.
History
Fengtai Photography Studio was established in 1892, corresponding to the 18th year of the reign of the Guangxu Emperor. Its founder, Ren Qingtai (), hailed from Faku County in Liaoning Province and is said to have lineage ties to Nurhaci, the founder of the Later Jin dynasty. Before creating Beijing's first Chinese photographic studio, Ren pursued studies in modern physics and photography in Japan.
The introduction of photography to China occurred during the 1880s, and following Fengtai's inauguration, it quickly gained popularity as a pastime within Beijing. The studio distinguished itself as a leader in both scale and technological advancement, employing more than ten professionals including notable photographers Liu Zhonglun (劉仲倫) and Xu Zihe (徐子和). Fengtai specialized in capturing portraits of Peking opera performers, a niche that proved financially lucrative.
By 1905, inspired by the increasing fascination with motion pictures after the Lumière brothers' innovations, Ren established Daguanlou (大觀樓), an elegant cinema located near the Gate of China. Given that foreign films dominated the market at this time, Ren procured a French-made hand camera along with film stock to create Dingjun Mountain, featuring prominent Peking opera artist Tan Xinpei. This blend of Western cinematic technology with traditional Chinese opera was met with enthusiasm and represented a significant achievement for Chinese filmmaking. Between 1906 and 1909, Fengtai continued producing films starring actors such as Yu Jusheng and Zhu Wenying.
The devastating fire in 1909 brought about the permanent closure of Fengtai. During the Cultural Revolution, preservation efforts for cultural landmarks were scarce, resulting in near demolition of the studio’s remains. In 1987, the location was converted into a kindergarten.
Filmography
- Dingjun Mountain (1905), featuring Tan Xinpei
- Changban Slope (長坂坡, 1905), starring Tan Xinpei
- Green Rock Mountain (青石山, 1906), with Yu Jusheng and Zhu Wenying
- Yanyang Tower (艷陽樓, 1906), starring Yu Jusheng
- Golden Leopard (金錢豹, 1906), featuring Yu Zhenting
- White Water Shore (白水灘, 1907), starring Yu Zhenting
- Receiving Guan Sheng (收關勝, 1907), with Xu Deyi
- Weaving Cotton (紡棉花, 1908), starring Xiao Magu