Gods of Mount Tai

Download or read book Gods of Mount Tai written by Susan NAQUIN and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2022-05-16 with total page 554 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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. Winner of the 2024 Levenson Prize (Pre-1900) awarded by the Association for Asian Studies. https://www.asianstudies.org/aas-2024-prizes/