明清之际奉教士人对耶稣形象的改造及其文化意义

On the Adjustments of the Jesus' Image from Chinese Confucian Christian during Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasty and Its Cultural Significance

耶稣是基督教信仰的核心,正确认识耶稣是理解基督教上帝的关键。面对明末清初入华传教士输入的充满异域文化特质的耶稣形象,中国奉教士人在中国历史典籍与文化传统中无法找到与之相对应的文化符号。因此,无法直接用儒家文化与汉语词汇去积极诠释这一异质文化现象。然而,他们却用比较间接的方式,通过对道成肉身学说做出刻意的选择,强调天主降生与耶稣行实等内容,有意忽略基督受难与复活升天,努力为耶稣形象寻找能被中国主流社会所接受的内在文化依据,并使其具有了浓郁的儒家气息,从而开启了耶稣形象在中国的本土化过程。

The core content of Christianity is Jesus. It is very important to better know about Jesus,which is the key to the understanding of the God. The missionaries introduced the image of Jesus during late Ming and early Qing Dynasty. However,Chinese Catholics Scholars did not find the corresponding cultural analogy of Jesus in traditional Chinese culture. At the same time,they also couldn＇t interpret this heterogeneous culture phenomenon actively by using Confucianism and Chinese vocabulary. Instead of accepting the preaching of missionaries directly,they tried to explain the image of Jesus in another way. For example,when it comes to incarmation,they emphasized the Nativity and Jesus deeds while ignoring the content related to the Crucifixion,Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. They also tried to look for the cultural inherent basis for Jesus and interpreted the image of Jesus by using Confucianism. Therefore,Chinese mainstream culture could accept the image of Jesus. More importantly,Christianity could start the process of indigenization in China.