Art As a Pathway to God : : A Historical-Theological Study of the Jesuit Mission to China, 1552-1773.

• Superior document: Theology and Mission in World Christianity Series ; v.28
• Author: Yalili Patrick, Susangeline.
• Place / Publishing House: Boston : : BRILL,, 2024.; ©2024.
• Year of Publication: 2024
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Theology and Mission in World Christianity Series
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (276 pages)

This study investigates the significant role of art in Jesuit mission efforts in China (1552-1773). Archaeological materials and written texts reveal that Jesuits and Chinese Christians sustained their faith and expressed their devotion to God via art.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Maps and Figures -- Maps -- Figures -- Abbreviations -- General Abbreviations -- 1 History, Theology, and Art in Cross-Cultural Mission -- 1 Why Study Art and Mission? -- 2 Overview of Chapters -- 3 Theoretical Framework -- 3.1 Art as a Historical Source -- 3.2 Art as a Source of Theology -- 3.3 Art as a Cultural Source -- 4 Research Methodology -- 4.1 Works of Art from Art Museums and Historical Sites -- 4.2 Manuscripts and Archival Sources -- 5 Scope -- 2 The Jesuits and Christian Art in China -- 1 Christian Art and Architecture in China -- 1.1 Nestorian Art and Architecture in the Tang Dynasty -- 1.2 Nestorians and Franciscan Art in the Yuan Dynasty -- 1.3 Christian Art in the Early Ming Dynasty -- 2 Jesuit Motivation for Using Art in Mission -- 2.1 A Brief History and Theology of Art in the Catholic Tradition -- 2.2 Theology of Art during the Reformation in Europe -- 2.2.1 Protestant Impact on Catholic Art -- 2.2.2 The Jesuits' Role in the Catholic Reformation -- 2.3 Jesuit Theology of Art -- 2.3.1 Art as a Way of Contemplation -- 2.3.2 From Profane to Sacred -- 2.3.3 Art in Jesuit Catechisms -- 2.3.4 Art as a Pathway to God -- 3 Jesuit Mission and Art in the Late Ming Dynasty (1552-1644) -- 1 The Intercultural Theological Foundation -- 2 The Jesuit Missionaries and Their Use of Art -- 2.1 Transporting Christian Art from Europe -- 2.2 Art, Curiosity, and Faith -- 2.3 Art and Theology in Jesuit Catechisms -- 3 Jesuit Church Architecture and Mission -- 3.1 A Global-Local Synthesis -- 3.2 From Buddhist Temples to Christian Churches -- 3.3 Chinese Temple-Styled Churches -- 4 The Cultural and Theological Meaning of Jesuit Art -- 4.1 Art in Service of Mission -- 4.2 Cultural Accommodation or Intercultural Exchange -- 4.3 Hybridity and the Global Network -- 4.4 Christo-Centric and Theologically Focused Art.

4.4.1 Theology of the Cross -- 4.4.2 Theology of Suffering -- 4 Asian Christians and Art in the Late Ming Dynasty (1552-1644) -- 1 Late Ming Seeing and Believing -- 1.1 Have You Any Art of Your God? -- 1.2 Idols to Feed the Worms and Fire -- 1.3 Christian Art in the Ming Imperial Palace -- 1.4 Rediscovering Nestorian Christianity -- 1.5 Christian Motifs in Ming Artistic Forms -- 1.6 Christian Ivories from Manila -- 2 Changing Faith and Art -- 2.1 Spontaneous and Systematic Changes -- 2.2 Christian Men and Women as Patrons of Art -- 2.3 Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Artists in Macau -- 2.4 Chinese Jesuits and Missionaries -- 2.5 Ming House Churches -- 5 European Jesuits and Art in the Early Qing Dynasty (1644-1773) -- 1 Jesuit Artist-Missionaries in the Qing Court -- 1.1 Seven Artist-Missionaries and Their Faithful Service -- 1.2 Cultural Synthesis and Hybridity in Art -- 2 The Jesuit Commissioning of Art -- 2.1 Christian Iconography on Chinese Porcelain -- 2.2 Christian Catechetical Books -- 2.3 Jesuit Church Architecture -- 2.3.1 Jesuit Churches in Beijing -- 2.3.2 Jesuit Churches in Sichuan -- 2.3.3 Jesuit Churches in Jiangnan -- 2.3.4 Jesuit Churches in Guizhou -- 2.3.5 Jesuit Churches in Ningbo -- 3 Characteristics of Jesuit Art and Mission -- 3.1 To the Greater Glory of God -- 3.2 Mission in the Context of Reception and Opposition -- 3.3 Jesuit "Bottom-Up" Mission Methodology -- 3.4 The Notion of Change in Jesuit Mission -- 6 Asian Christians and Art in the Early Qing Dynasty (1644-1773) -- 1 Chinese Jesuits and Art -- 1.1 Wu Li: Painter and Jesuit Priest -- 1.2 Christian Works of Art -- 2 Ethnic Minority Christians and Art -- 2.1 Manchu Christians in Beijing -- 2.2 The Conversion of a Korean Prince in Beijing -- 2.3 Tibetan Church -- 3 Unique Characteristics of the Churches -- 3.1 Women's Churches.

3.2 Christian and Non-Christian Patrons of Jesuit Churches -- 4 Theology Revealed through Art -- 4.1 Jesus with Shoes: Chinese Intercultural Adaptation -- 4.2 Theology of Space -- 5 Influence on and from Society -- Conclusion -- 1 Implications and Further Research -- 2 Implications of the Research -- 2.1 Historical Implications -- 2.2 Theological Implications -- 2.2.1 Via Positiva -- 2.2.2 Theology of the Divine Revelation -- 2.2.3 Art and Witness -- 2.2.4 Art and Soteriology -- 2.3 Missiological Implications of Art in Mission -- 2.3.1 The Complexity of Intercultural Métissage -- 2.3.2 Four Questions for Art in Mission Today -- 2.3.3 Redemptive Art -- 2.4 A Theology of Art -- 2.5 Art and Mission -- 3 Further Research -- Appendices -- A Glossary of Terms and Names -- B Timeline of Dynasties in China -- C History of Christian Art in the Catholic Tradition Prior to the Sixteenth-Century -- D History of Christian Art in China Prior to 1552 -- E List of Art Involved with Jesuit China Mission in the Late Ming Dynasty (1552-1644) -- F List of Art and Artist in the Jesuit Mission in the Early Qing Dynasty (1644-1773) -- G Church Buildings Chart -- H Museums Visited for Research (42) -- I Churches and Historical Sites Visited (98) -- J Maps -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Primary Sources -- Secondary Sources -- Index.