Author:

Category：Photograph

Year：1953

Size:Length:60.5 x Width:50.7 (cm)

Size description：為相紙尺寸 夾裱尺寸：縱：76cm，橫：60.2cm 影像尺寸：縱：45.6cm，橫：45.7cm

Introduction：In 1953, Reverend Armand Jacques from the Maryknoll Society brought several missionaries to Puli, Nangtou and rented a storefront there as the temporary chapel to preach the gospel. This became the predecessor and origin of the Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Puli Township.

In Yang Chih-hsin’s own recollections, he once saw an old lady reading the Holy Bible piously and attentively in a simple and small rural church. Looking around, he realized that there were no other people but the reading woman. “Silence hung thick in the air, and the only sound I could hear was her lingering whisper,” he said, “it seemed that some imperceptible yet inevitable power had led me to this scene.”

Religious events have always been a significant subject in social documentary photography. In Taiwanese social contexts, religious events are usually associated with Buddhist and Taoist practices. Many photographers have therefore captured worshippers burning incense and participating in pilgrimages, or Taoist masters and shamans conducting religious rites. However, Yang Chih-hsin decided to take a photo of a catholic woman instead. From his perspective, the number of practitioners of Catholicism and other branches of Christianity in Taiwan is rather small. Thus, he was completely fascinated by his encounter with such a pious Catholic woman heedfully reading the Bible in the remote Puli Township.

Media and Techniques：Gelatin silver print

Accession Number:NCP2016-021-0012