Gods of Mount Tai: Familiarity and the Material Culture of North China, 1000-2000

Published
ISBN
978-90-04-50425-7
Publisher
Brill

At the intersection of art and religious history, this work suggests a fresh method for studying Chinese gods and sacred places. Susan Naquin tells the full story of the transformations of the Lady of Mount Tai, North China’s most important female deity, and her mountain home. This generously illustrated visual history presents a rich array of overlooked statues, prints, murals, and paintings of gods that were discovered in museums, auctions, and extensive travel. By focusing on ordinary images, temples, and region-based materiality Naquin demonstrates how this flexibly gendered new god flourished while her male predecessor was neglected. Both suffered greatly during the last century, but Mount Tai continues to be a culturally significant monument and China’s most popular tourist mountain.

Field(s)
Area of Interest
Art History
Cultural History
Gender & Sexuality
Material Culture
Religion
Science and Technology Studies
Social History
Period
6th through 14th Centuries
15th & 16th Centuries
17th & 18th Centuries
19th Century
Region
Asia