History of Christian Polychrome Wood Sculpture in Vietnam
As early as 1533 the Christian missionaries, led by the Society of Jesus founder St. Ignatius of Loyola from Portugal, reached Indochina. The Jesuit Society understood early the propagandistic impact of iconography and sought to develop their imagery to stimulate devotion with the images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Apostles and various saints. The missionaries began much of their Christian teaching before the arrival of the Colonial periods in Asia. In 1615 a Jesuit mission had been established in Thang Long, the capital of the Northern Kingdom (present day Vietnam) and in 1619 Father Alexander de Rhodes arrived in Indochina. He came to Hao Nho village in 1627 where he preached for 4 months. In 1630, he was expelled from Tonkin and headed to Macau where he spent 10 years before returning to Vietnam to continue his mission. Early on, the missionary activities were dominated by the Portuguese Society of Jesus, and later by the Spanish with its leader St. Francis Xavier. The Jesuits began in the north and Tonkin region. The French Dominican Order began their efforts in the central and southern regions. Written in Viet Nam Su Luoc (Vietnam History), from 1630 to 1754 the Christians were subjected to severe persecution with many missionaries and their followers openly executed. Still there were many people who converted to Christianity in Annam (present day Vietnam) during this period. Vietnamese are predominantly Buddhist and only 8% Christian. To date, 7% of Vietnamese are Catholic, which is less than 1% of total population.
It is my belief that most and perhaps all of the Christian icons discovered in Asia were produced in European and transported to Asia via the ocean trade routes. These icons were carried to Asia on ships by Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and French missionaries during the Colonial Period. These religious men also built churches in Asia after the Romanesque and Gothic style. Although some remain standing today, many of these churches were destroyed by religious persecution and war.
The majority of our collection is from destroyed churches that once populated the remote villages of northern Vietnam and Macau. These statues were removed from old, dilapidated churches and collected by private owners to decorate altars in their homes. Our estimates of the age of our statues are very liberal, tending to date the statues as newer. However, it is our firm belief that the majority of the statues in our collection are much older. The origin of the majority of these statues is likely Portuguese or Spanish. However, some of the statues are indisputably French in origin. Regardless, it is our belief that these statues were made in Europe and transported to Asia as implements of faith. This idea is also supported by priest and art collectors across the country of Vietnam.
It is my belief that most and perhaps all of the Christian icons discovered in Asia were produced in European and transported to Asia via the ocean trade routes. These icons were carried to Asia on ships by Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and French missionaries during the Colonial Period. These religious men also built churches in Asia after the Romanesque and Gothic style. Although some remain standing today, many of these churches were destroyed by religious persecution and war.
The majority of our collection is from destroyed churches that once populated the remote villages of northern Vietnam and Macau. These statues were removed from old, dilapidated churches and collected by private owners to decorate altars in their homes. Our estimates of the age of our statues are very liberal, tending to date the statues as newer. However, it is our firm belief that the majority of the statues in our collection are much older. The origin of the majority of these statues is likely Portuguese or Spanish. However, some of the statues are indisputably French in origin. Regardless, it is our belief that these statues were made in Europe and transported to Asia as implements of faith. This idea is also supported by priest and art collectors across the country of Vietnam.