Hanyang Museum - Appreciation of the Luminous Religion

Hanyang Museum - Artist Impresssion

Hanyang Museum - Artist Impresssion

During a trip to Shanghai last week, I had an opportunity to visit Tushanwan Museum, a place that I had heard about a few years ago. Located just two streets from St Ignatius Cathedral in the bustling central district of Xujiahui, the museum is an example of what happens when Chinese historical appreciation meets with the story of the Church.

Standing outside the museum entrance, there was a need for patience to find a way to use my mobile phone to scan codes to generate an admission ticket and also to display proof of a recent negative Covid test. The stumbling effort provided time for some humorous conversation with those on duty at the entrance. Having negotiated the electronic hurdle, a transfer to a different era was quickly experienced.

The recently renovated museum is a thoughtful display of the history of the Church in Shanghai. Photographs from the late 19th century are accompanied by written explanations in Chinese and English, with an occasional area having a French explanation. Different sections focused on the dedicated efforts made by the Church in its pioneering work in education, art, care of orphans, health care, stained glass, printing as well as faith development.

Perhaps a restriction of space led to an omission of the pioneering work by Jesuit missionaries at the edge of the city to set up China's first seismic monitoring centre and a large-scale observatory at Sheshan, both of which are well recorded at their respective sites. A surprising part of Tushanwan Museum's positive presentation of the Church's contribution to life in Shanghai is that the museum is a project in which the local government is the key player.

Hanyang Convent

There seems to be a flexibility in the collective Chinese mind to place the history of a religious institution in a safe neutral category, a category that can be seen as quite different to discussions by the civil authorities about the current role of the same religious institution.

A similar historical perception seems to apply in the heart of Beijing where a detailed explanation of the first known arrival of Christianity to China is displayed at the National Museum. A tall full-scale paper copy of the text of the well-known 8th century Christian Stele at a museum in Xian is accompanied by explanations that outline how the three-metre-high stone sculpture was carved and etched to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity, the religion referred to in those early times as the 'Luminous Religion'.

The National Museum is located on one side of the landmark city square that forms the heart of Beijing, the other side of the same square being the location of the huge meeting halls where the biggest political gatherings take place and where decisions on the future direction of the nation are approved.

What is acceptable in the bigger cities seems to eventually give an unconscious nod of approval to what can happen in other parts of China. In the Hanyang area of Wuhan, a recently-planned large-scale commercial and residential development was designed in such a way as to preserve three old buildings, each of them part of the history of the Church in the area. Their historical importance was enough to save them from demolition. A former church, convent and embroidery school are therefore being integrated into a design that involves French architect Hugh Dutton; the Louvre Museum in Paris being the location of some of his architectural designs.

Hanyang Museum

Aside from the ongoing work throughout this year to preserve the three old buildings, plans are in place to have a museum that will highlight the contribution made by missionaries in this part of China.

Colourful brochures and computer graphics are already highlighting what might be available for visitors to view in mid-2023. As ideas for possible displays are being discussed, a focus on the life of Columban co-founder Bishop Edward Galvin is emerging as a possibility for the new museum. His 30 years living through contrasting times in this part of China seem to be a suitable choice for highlighting missionary experiences. Discussions between the property developers and Chinese Church personnel continue to take place in efforts to source missionary magazines, books, photographs and suitable artifacts that would assist in presenting the missionary story to the public.

The new museum is ideally located at the intersection of two Metro lines in the heart of the Hanyang area of the city. It is planned to be one part of the former convent of the Hanyang diocesan sisters and the setting is fronted by a public square and close to the development's vast number of new apartments. The planning of the museum is being carried out by people not traditionally connected with the Church, their efforts leading to what seems to be a positive presentation of the life of the Church in this part of China.

In Old Testament times, the people of Israel understood God as being the God of history. Even in our time, the same view of God remains foundational, with events from generation to generation eventually revealing a pattern of meaning that touches the community's heart in unexpected ways. Within such an outlook, it would seem that there is also space for a contribution to be made in China by civil authorities as they unexpectedly highlight the history of the Church. For those who have a deep concern for the life of the Church, there can be bemused smiles as they see the civil authorities using their considerable skills to present the life of the Church in a meaningful way to the public. This is a new audience that would not otherwise have the opportunity to see the Church within such a positive historical unfolding.

Columban Fr Dan Troy lives and works in Wuhan, China.

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