Konfuzianische Convenevolezza in chinesischen christlichen Illustrationen. Das Tianzhu jiangsheng chuxiang jingjie von 1637

Abstract

Since the fourteenth century, the terminology of convenevolezza, i.e. the application of contemporary costume and theater designs in the artistic representation of historical narratives, was much discussed in Italian art circles. Jesuit missionaries were also familiar with this concept. In the seventeenth century, soon after the beginning of their missionary activities in China, the Jesuits chose this artistic method for conveying the Christian ideas to the Chinese more effectively. This can be seen in their biblical illustrations for the Chinese public, which combine holy stories with Chinese contemporary costumes, furniture, decorations etc. Inspired by Evangelicae historiae imagines, a book originating in Europe, Jesuits published in 1637 the first illustrated “Life of Christ” in Chinese, Tianzhu jiang sheng chuxiang jingjie 天主降生出像經解 (Explanation of the Canonical Book about the Lord of Heaven’s Incarnation with Selected Images). Many objects represented in the woodblock prints in this book refer to Confucian lifestyle, symbols or philosophies. Focused on this book and comparing its engravings with those in the Western original, this paper examines the application of convenevolezza to Chinese woodblock prints. The present study argues that the Jesuits’ policy of accommodating Christianity to Confucianism was substantially implemented by this artistic practice.