On September 9th, our institute hosted a guest from Ukraine, Marta Logvyn, who is a leading research fellow at the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Art. She delivered two lectures, one of which focused on the concept of wealth in Chinese culture and its connections to spirituality.
On one hand, Buddhism criticizes greed and teaches about its nature, while on the other hand, Chinese culture perceives wealth as a well-deserved blessing, claiming that this belief stems from the Buddhist worldview. Although there are no temples dedicated solely to the god of wealth, every temple features a statue of the god of wealth that is the most visited and splendidly adorned by the congregation.
In the lecture "Wealth: Controversies Resolved," we sought to understand not only these contradictions but also the factors that have influenced values, beliefs, and practices.
M. Logvyn began her lecture by introducing the topic of wealth in Chinese culture, illustrating it with artifacts from museums. It was interesting to learn about certain Chinese symbols and their meanings. Particularly striking examples from 18th-century Chinese art include important motifs such as vases and coins symbolizing wealth. The complexity of symbolic meanings starts to stand out, integrating spiritual and material values. Later, the emergence of the god of wealth as an object was discussed.
In the second part of the lecture, the speaker introduced how status was depicted in art (happy children, symbols of happiness and abundance). Historical artifacts and coins from different dynasties emphasize how the concept of money has evolved over time. This theme was further developed by discussing the emphasis on luxury in certain wealthy social classes.
Interestingly, in Chinese culture, wealth is associated with education, as education is considered a path to social status and increases the chances for a wealthier and more stable future. Many artifacts and artistic expressions reflect a combination of material wealth and spiritual values, especially in Buddhist contexts.
Thus, the lecture deeply explored the multifaceted understanding of wealth in Chinese culture, illustrating how material values, education, and social responsibility are interconnected. We hope this lecture provided viewers with interesting insights into the historical evolution of the concept of wealth and encouraged reflections on contemporary ideas related to privilege and comfort.
We invite you to listen to the lecture recording in English. https://youtu.be/Qun7Ze_UKmg