Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” Painting
The <i>Guanyin/Madonna and Child</i> painting, housed in the British Museum, exemplifies a distinct amalgamation of Catholic and Buddhist elements. This academic study explores the religious syncretism within this artwork, set against the backdrop of Sino-Western cultural dynamics. By in...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Zetong Liu Hui Zeng Junming Chen |
| author_facet | Zetong Liu Hui Zeng Junming Chen |
| author_sort | Zetong Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The <i>Guanyin/Madonna and Child</i> painting, housed in the British Museum, exemplifies a distinct amalgamation of Catholic and Buddhist elements. This academic study explores the religious syncretism within this artwork, set against the backdrop of Sino-Western cultural dynamics. By integrating socio-religious analysis with iconographic methods, this research highlighted the interplay between the two religious traditions and the broader trends of cultural adaptation and religious amalgamation. It was proposed that the painting, on display at the British Museum, reflects not only the European depiction of the <i>Madonna of Humility</i> but also the Jesuit missionary influence and the clandestine religious practices of Chinese Christians during periods of persecution. This investigation provided new perspectives on the nuances of religious syncretism and the evolution of religious imagery within the contexts of cultural exchanges and missionary initiatives, augmenting scholarly discussions on the dynamics between religious beliefs and societal frameworks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-012f79c7edcb4d1989a99ee0521a890f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-012f79c7edcb4d1989a99ee0521a890f2025-01-24T13:47:23ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-01-011613610.3390/rel16010036Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” PaintingZetong Liu0Hui Zeng1Junming Chen2“Pietro Vannucci” Academy of Fine Arts of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, ItalySchool of Design, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaSchool of Art and Design, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaThe <i>Guanyin/Madonna and Child</i> painting, housed in the British Museum, exemplifies a distinct amalgamation of Catholic and Buddhist elements. This academic study explores the religious syncretism within this artwork, set against the backdrop of Sino-Western cultural dynamics. By integrating socio-religious analysis with iconographic methods, this research highlighted the interplay between the two religious traditions and the broader trends of cultural adaptation and religious amalgamation. It was proposed that the painting, on display at the British Museum, reflects not only the European depiction of the <i>Madonna of Humility</i> but also the Jesuit missionary influence and the clandestine religious practices of Chinese Christians during periods of persecution. This investigation provided new perspectives on the nuances of religious syncretism and the evolution of religious imagery within the contexts of cultural exchanges and missionary initiatives, augmenting scholarly discussions on the dynamics between religious beliefs and societal frameworks.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/36Chinese ChristianMadonna and ChildCatholicismBuddhismGuanyinJesuit missions |
| spellingShingle | Zetong Liu Hui Zeng Junming Chen Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” Painting Religions Chinese Christian Madonna and Child Catholicism Buddhism Guanyin Jesuit missions |
| title | Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” Painting |
| title_full | Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” Painting |
| title_fullStr | Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” Painting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” Painting |
| title_short | Faith’s Frontiers: An Exploration of Religious Syncretism and Cultural Adaptation in the “Guanyin/Madonna and Child” Painting |
| title_sort | faith s frontiers an exploration of religious syncretism and cultural adaptation in the guanyin madonna and child painting |
| topic | Chinese Christian Madonna and Child Catholicism Buddhism Guanyin Jesuit missions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/36 |
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