The Historical Significance of Religious Art :A comparative Study of Two Smiling Statues : Gothic Virgin Mary and Northern Wei Kwan-Yin

• Main Authors: Wan-Yun Huang, 黃琬芸
• Other Authors: He-Bei Liu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/75376366200942752450

碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 宗教學系 === 98 === 　　To the author of this thesis, art in the carries of Truth, Goodness and Beauty, qualities of Religious faith itself. It guides us to break through the finite, to reach Infinity. Can we find 2 works of art, one in Christianity and one in Buddhism each expressing the spirit of its religion, upon them we can open a dialogue, based on the converging point of their artistic value? 　　We know in Europe the period of Middle Ages is called “The Dark Age”, while in China the period of Six Dynasties is named a “Black River of History”. Both represent a period of wars and natural disasters, Europe and China have both lost their center of spirituality. But precisely during this period appeared in Europe the Gothic statue of Smiling Mary, and in the Northern Wei of China the statue of the Smiling Kwan-Yin. The appearance of these two smiles, did they bring to the suffering crowd some light in darkness? Could they represent the essence of both religions- the concept of “Mediatrix” and the “Into-Worldness”? Starting on this point, I use the methods of Comparative history and Comparative Religions to developed this thesis. 　　In the first chapter I based on the History of Middle Ages Christianity to study the role of Christian Faith in the great Melting Pot of Cultures. How the activities of Pilgrimage and Crusades brought new development to the artistic images? The monastic life of woman, the promotion of Chastity. What is the relationship between there practices and the Smiling Virgin? 　　The second chapter follows the same direction, based on Chinese history of Buddhism during Six Dynasties. Did the Buddhist believe bring in foreign cultures? The Buddhism of the North, the moving South of the capitol, what all of these contribute to the reform of Buddhism? During this period the number of women dedicated to monastic life increased greatly. A lot of books dedicated to the praise of Chastity and Beauty. Have all these contributed to the appearance of the Smiling Kwan-Yin? 　　My study is a net work woven with History and dogmas. The third Chapter compares dogmas. First we take a book at the life of the Virgin and of Kwan-Yin. Than I look into the classics, than I study the dogmas of “Mediatrix” and “Enter-into-Worldness” their similarities and differences. Thus to understand how the art looks bring consolation to the marginalized people. 　　To spread Religious Faith, Religious Art plays an important role that nothing can replace. It gives to the dogmas an image, immortalizes the beauty of the Virgin Mary and Kwan-Yin. But what is Religious Art? How Religious Art can use the media of the world to express the Divine through Goodness and Beauty? In the world today even art is lost. The Mediatrix concept of the Virgin and the “Enter-into-Worldness” concept of Kwan-Yin, can they raise us beyond time and space, to bring a solution to Religious Art? This is also what I thought to be the contemporary Value of Religious Art.