A Study Of Stone Decorations On The Gate Of Tzu Chi Temple In White Reef,Zhangzhou

White reef Tzu Chi Temple,located in White reef Township,Jiaowei,Longhai,Zhangzhou City,Fujian Province,was built in the 21st year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty(1151 AD).It is a Taoist faith building dedicated to Baosheng Great,and is known as the "Forbidden City of Southern Fujian" for its ingenious architecture,exotic layout,majestic style,and all top grade decoration.However,there are little research in academia about the White reef Tzu Chi Temple in Longhai,Zhangzhou currently.The existing research perspectives mainly focus on its architectural pattern,the belief of the Baosheng Great Emperor and the social relations between Fujian and Taiwan.This paper therefore explores the artistic features and cultural connotations of the stone decoration of Tzu Chi Temple of White reef through a specific case study.The aim is to supplement the previous studies.The object of this study is the stone decoration on the gate of Tzu Chi Temple in White reef Village,Zhangzhou.A micro case study and macro cultural reflection are combined based on field surveys and historical documents.The methods of artistic culturology,sociology,image analysis and literature review are adopted.Through a dissection of stone carving,motifs,themes,patterns and implications of the stone decoration on the gate and a review of the development history of Baosheng Dadi worship,this study discusses the aesthetic value and deep sociocultural meaning of the stone decoration art from the perspectives of cultural phylogenetics and sociology.The introduction of the paper describes domestic and overseas research status and results regarding Tzu Chi Temple,and explains the value and significance of this study as well as its perspectives and methods.The body contains three parts:first,the origin and development of Baosheng Dadi worship,and the history,size and structure of Tzu Chi Temple of White reef;second,the stone decoration on the gate of Tzu Chi Temple of White reef;third,the similarities and differences between stone decorations of Tzu Chi Temples of White reef,Qingjiao and Tzu Chi Temples Xuejia in Taiwan.The conclusion summarizes and extracts the aesthetic meaning and missionary function the stone decoration carries and the Minnan cultural implications it embodies.