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Macau Periodical Index (澳門期刊論文索引)
- Author
- Wagner, Christian；Lin, Su Chi
- Title
- The Façade of St Paul’s in Macao reflects Christian, Confucian and Buddhist spirituality
- Journal Name
- The Journal of the Macau Ricci Institute
- Pub. Info
- Sept. 2017, No. 1, pp. 64-76
- Link
- http://mrijournal.riccimac.org/articles/issue_01/MRI_Journal_Issue_One.pdf
- Abstract
- The 17th century Portuguese church of St. Paul’s in Macao has long been destroyed except for its façade. Once, it was part of a large complex that comprised a college which has been displaced by urban development. The preserved and recently renovated ruins of St. Paul’s façade however have been added to the list of the UNESCO world heritage sites. The façade’s exposed location above Macao’s old city centre made it an ideal canvas for the encounter of Asian and Western spiritualities, for an encounter of trade, cultures, and people and for an encounter of Macao’s colonial past with Macao’s present status as favoured special trading area of China. It is in this façade where Christian, Confucian and Buddhist spiritualities interact and where they have left a monument that illustrates an harmonious and mutual enrichment among these cultures. Paragraph Headings: 1. The main structural characteristics of St Paul’s Façade 2. The façade illustrates Christian spirituality in an Asian style 3. The golden façade as an invitation to meditation or a demonstration of wealth 4. Christian spirituality compatible with Confucian thought reflected in Asian craftsmanship 5. Buddhist spirituality in Christian symbolism 6. Pragmatism merges with spiritualityfor the navigators 7. Kanji-like characters on the façade pass on Christian spirituality to Chinese and Buddhists