Images, Meaning, Aesthetic —A Study On "the Images Of Religious Figures" In Chinese Modern Literature

Because of the social transformation, reconstruction of meaning and the ultimate care was a major issue in modern China. Chinese religions and our modern literature both responded to the issue. Religious authors and writers created a lot of "images of religious figures" in order to highlight the significance of meaning and purport the ultimate concern in modern China. Of course, during this process,they had different artistic characteristics. So if we are based on the reconstruction of meaning, a study on "the images of religious figures"in Chinese modern literature is of various value.This study is based on the collection of related works that containing "the images of religious figures". This study is based on the reconstruction of meaning, making use of cultural theory, theory of meaning, the theory of ultimate concern, the modern theory, the theory of aesthetic image, the theory of personality and so on. This study contains religious authors and writers, "the images of religious figures" in Chinese modern literature had several kinds of meaning, these authors and writers were different in the process of creation, at the same time, we should make our study on the whole. Meanwhile, there are several methods used integratedly in the study. For example, external research and internal research, micro research and microscopic study, historical view and theoretical perspective, multiple comparisons and so on.Firstly, from the macro perspective, we find that "the images of religious figures" were closely related to the background including history, religions, literary trend and so on. Considering the religious background, we can conclude these authors’ cultural positions, then we make "the images of religious figures" classified. There were three main types including religious view, humanistic aspiration and aesthetic value. They stood like the legs of a tripod. In the history of Chinese modern literature, comparing with other characters, "the images of religious figures" had some common features, but their diversity and particularity were more important and meaningful.These three main types had their own characteristics including the ideological contents and artistry. The religious type had religious meaning mostly, the problem was how to integrate ideological content and artistry. This type contributed religious culture, "the images of religious figures" and artistic forms to Chinese modern literature, intensifying its ultimate care. The humanistic type showed modern consciousness obviously, the harmonious unification between ideological contents and artistry was important. This type was highly similar to the history of Chinese modern literature, it created a space for dialogue between rationality and religions, enriched the issue and artistry of dialogue between humans and religions. The aesthetic type was helpful to create more aesthetic experiences, the key issue was how to transform ideological content into proper artistic form, different characteristics produced different artistic effects. This type inherited much from Chinese classical literature and foreign Christian literature. In the history of Chinese modern literature, these three main types were meaningful and valuable differently.Basing on such analysis, this study has some specific research. The first is a comparative study of "the images of Master Hong Yi" and "the images of Jesus Christ", they both had great impact, so the similarities and differences between them are should be explored. On account of the significance of religious conversion, the second is a study on"the images of religious conversion" in Chinese modern literature, this paper mostly consider the contents, aesthetic value and artistry of "the images of religious conversion". Additionally, this study make focus on "the images of religious figures" in Chinese modern martial arts fiction, by the comparative analysis, the issue could reflect the similarities and differences between the ancient literature and the modern literature. In fact, the latter inherited much from the former, Chinese modern popular literature also inherited much from our ancient literature.Overall, "the images of religious figures" in Chinese modern literature existed under the background of the great social transformation and the construction of meaning. The religious background and literary attainments of authors were very important. These three main types had their own historic significance, including the artistic achievements and shortages, the latter specific research also proved the issue. "The images of religious figures" enhanced the implication and ideological level of Chinese modern literature, enriched the types of character and aesthetic experience. This study reflect the humanistic spirit and the creative vitality of Chinese modern writers and religious authors. At last, "the images of religious figures" are related to the creation of religious figures, the secular world and the religious ideals, truth and virtue, literature and religion, religious experiences and aesthetic appreciation and so on. We can continue to consider these meaningful issues on and on.