Date of Award
12-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD)
Director
Anh Q. Tran, S. J.
Abstract
This study explores the evolution of Marian images in Taiwan, examining how they reflect the intersection of universal Christian faith and local cultural identities. Marian images play a vital role in sacred spaces, deepening the believers’ faith through liturgy, devotion, and pilgrimage. By repeatedly engaging with these images through viewing, touching, and praying, the faithful form a deep spiritual connection with the Virgin Mary, creating a sense of “communitas-through-culture” that links people across generations.
This research traces the development of Marian iconography in Taiwan, from Western traditions to Han Chinese, local Taiwanese, and indigenous adaptations. Applying Bevans’ models of contextualization, it identifies four distinct models of inculturation: the no adaptation model (strict adherence to Western traditions), the anthropological model (emphasis on local cultural contexts), the translation model (preserving Western traditions with localized appearance), and the synthetic model (blending Western and local traditions with third-party cultural elements). These models demonstrate how different faith communities in Taiwan have engaged with their diverse cultural contexts, using Marian imagery to express their religious narratives and identity.
Given the diverse Marian representations in Taiwan, this study suggests creating a national Marian shrine and pilgrimage center to unify various groups. Shared Marian feasts and pilgrimages would foster a collective Catholic identity. The study also proposes a synthetic localized Marian image, drawing from the Hodegetria tradition while incorporating elements from Taiwan’s indigenous, Han Chinese, Hokkien, Hakka, and plains indigenous cultures. This model would help Catholics navigate their multiple identities in Taiwan’s pluralistic society. Inspired by the vitality of Taiwan’s Ma-tsu pilgrimage, the study suggests a cross-regional pilgrimage that integrates Church history, Catholic social teachings on environmental care, and public participation. This initiative could deepen interactions with local agricultural communities, strengthen local evangelization, and promote the localization of Catholicism in Taiwan.
Ultimately, this study contributes to future research on Marian imagery, devotions, and pilgrimages, emphasizing the important role of Marian icons in local evangelization and the strengthening of Catholic identity. By incorporating local cultural elements into Marian imagery, it fosters a deeper connection between faith and local identity, thereby enriching the global Church’s understanding of inculturation.
Recommended Citation
Hsu, Aloysius Ming-te, "Images of the Virgin Mary as a Cultural Icon in Forming Taiwan’s Catholic Local Identities" (2024). Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations. 136.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations/136