From Folk to Classic: A Study on 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 text is clear in its logic and rich in materials. The second part comprehensively analyzes various forms of the Guan Yu image and the worship of Guan Yu, exploring the different influences and roles that various texts have had on the formation of the Guan Yu image. Using interdisciplinary methods that intersect literature with society, literature with religion, and literature with folklore, the book offers 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 that represents 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."