In 1987, I photographed four nuns in their residence in Sanjiang. Before the photograph, they began removing items from the wall, including robes, buckets, and tools, to create a cleaner appearance. I asked them to leave everything in its original place.

Their belongings reflect the daily rhythms of monastic life: practical, modest, and rooted in community. The mix of personal items and devotional objects offers a fuller understanding of their lived environment than a neatly arranged room could convey.

This photograph provides an authentic record of monastic domestic life among the Dong minority.