NARRATIVE CONVEYANCE OF STORY THEMES IN TEMPLES

Abstract

: This study explored the story themes conveyed in temples built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties (1604–1822 AD). In total, 19 temples and 628 story themes were investigated. Content analysis was adopted to compare and contrast the narrative structure of novels and that of the images decorating the temples; in addition, sample analysis was performed using the narrative structure, story element, main patron deity, and story theme. The results are as follows: 1) Temple creators primarily selected Romance of the Three Kingdoms for the story theme. 2) Temple creators selected chapters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Apotheosis of Heroes and predominantly adopted the midpoint in Act II that resembling the three-act structure in Western tradition. 3) The background of the main patron deity and the story theme selection for a temple were correlated.