The Concept of the Manifestation of God in Chinese Symbolism: An Inter-civilizational Hermeneutic Study

Abstract

This article’s hermeneutic approach accommodates transcultural interpretation of symbols and metaphors, providing for a “fusion of horizons” between civilizations with different cultural heritage. The idea that seemingly incompatible symbols can be allusions to a common underlying meaning makes it possible to develop connections between worldviews and perspectives commonly considered incommensurable, in our case between the Bahá’í concept of the Manifestation of God and corresponding Chinese philosophical and religious concepts. This paper demonstrates that there are elements of the Chinese tradition that resonate deeply with the Bahá’í notion of the Manifestation of God.