From Folk to Classic: A Historical Analysis of the Formation and Evolution of the Image and Worship of Guan Yu

Author: Liu Haiyan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Liu Haiyan's book systematically organizes the evolution of the Guan Yu image and the worship of Guan Yu, examining the process of the symbolization of the Guan Yu image. The content is clear and the materials are rich and detailed. The second part comprehensively analyzes various forms of the Guan Yu image and the worship of Guan Yu, exploring the different influences and roles of various texts on the formation of the Guan Yu image. Using interdisciplinary methods such as literature and society, literature and religion, and literature and folklore, the book provides a cultural interpretation of the Guan Yu image, pointing out: "The Confucianization and deification of the Guan Yu image reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. As a cultural symbol representing social moral power, the Guan Yu image carries multiple cultural connotations. People define Guan Yu using the cultural norms provided by different cultural circles, or the Guan Yu image accommodates the interests and ideas of different cultural circles."