The Semiotic Characteristics Of Religious Symbols

The Semiotic Characteristics Of ghostly SymbolsAbstract pressisations ,which ar substantive and imaginative, be widely apply in Hesperian theologyliness. Actu bothy, apparitional emblems are non only supports, besides overly a picture which contains thousands of nubs. semiology gives us a channel to achieve our aims reading the thought of our ancestors. primeval words semiology, faith, sacred signs, be signsI. entrancewayThe origin of the spectral symbolsThe brain, which is al styluss interested in the environment, distinguishes us from ordinary animals. Humans al modalitys ask nigh questions nearly the world who we are, why we live on this place, where we go to after we dead, what the meaning of raining, flood, thunder, meteor is. Thousands of years ago, humans bottomland not answer some of these questions scientific every(prenominal)y. So it makes us to believe that at that status is a salmagundi of compelling force controlled these things. Actu to ut ensembley, to some extent humans create a stamp system which bottomland answer these questions by themselves.Humans derive an structured symbol and dit erupt system, which is employd to oppose our thought round the universe, from the vox populi system. Also the religious symbols be ample to it. Actually, the origin religious symbols are totem. Lu Deping has give a very comprehensive explanation in his publisher Semiotic Interpretation of the Primitive Totems Totem is the marker for the primitive bulk to diagnose their social affiliation consciously. It also acts as the message for the primitive groups to coiffure their existence from the empirical continuum or the environment mingled with them.(Lu Deping , 2004) Most of the totems are inattentive from the natural much(prenominal)(prenominal) as animals , plants, mountains and so on. The Chinese dragon, which is associated by more(prenominal)(prenominal) than ten kinds of animals, is a typical totem in Chinese history. Totems rate extravagantly in mythical discourses, religious rites, and some primitive paintings . Totems are case- unrivalledrousened as symbols which piece of tail connect humans with the mysterious magnate which is imperious the world. With the culture of human society, thousands of years latter, the threaten and worship for the mysterious power promote us to trust that at that place are idol or Buddha in the world. Then everything that we can not translate looks logical. God or Buddha can save us from disease, disaster and anything bad. Then totems change with the transient time. They become much simple and easy to be drawn or identification such as ( messiahian Cross), (Star of David), (Lotus Flower), ( Taiji).B. Difference between symbol and signIn our daily smell, we always try our best to distinguish symbols and signs a bust. However, it is hard to do this sometimes. In linguals, semiotics and psychology, symbol and sign are bear upon with each other a t close to times. Symbol needs sign to allege itself, and also sign means the symbolic sign. In Oxford mature Learners Dictionary of Current English (Sixth edition), it give us a definition of sign and symbol sign is a mark which used to typify something, curiously in mathematics. Also it means an withalt, an action, a fact that shows that something exists, is possibility or may happen in the future .(A S Hornby. P1626).Symbol is be as a sign, number, letter, etc. that has a fixed meaning especially in science mathematics and music.( A S Hornby.P1791) As you go to in dictionary, symbol and sign almost kick in the same meaning. They can also mean something that indicates that something exists or may happen, but a sign is normally something that you may find or see, while symbol is usually insinuate. It is much more meaningful. For example, sign always gives us something simple and direct. it means enter forbidden. it means no turning left. On the other side, symbol is image or the underlying meaning behind the sign. For example , turn on is the symbol of the sun and the male power, the spring flowers represent a pertly birth and new life. When we observe the world with symbol, maybe you feel that life become much more colorful and meaningful.In academic field, the argumentations slightly sign and symbol countenance never stopped . In all of which de Saussure and Pierce are the representative of symbol in semiotics. Saussure position of symbol and sign is not definite. But in his pass all over in General Linguistics, he withdraw that the word symbol is sometimes used to designate the linguistic sign, or more exactly the part of the linguistic sign which we are calling the signal.(Ferdinand de Saussure, 1986,p.68). But Pierce point come out of the closet that everything is a sign. It defines three roles encompassing (1) the sign, (2) the signs subject matter, called its object, and (3) the signs meaning or ramification as formed into a kind of effect called its version .(Charles Sanders Peirce by wikipedia). Peirce sound off that symbol belongs to sign . We can conveniently explain the semiotic phenomenon. For example, the shop signboard is a sign, The words or symbol is sign. The shop which represents is the object. At last ,the information of the words or symbol is the interpreting.II.The family between religion and religion symbolsNo matter which kind of religion it is, in its early iterations, religion is expression by symbols. forwards Gandhara time, there is no Buddhist Statue in Buddhism. People use the symbols such as the big banyan tree, pedestal, dharma-cakra and footmark and so on to represent some meanings. The same with Buddhism, the early Christianity also use a symbolistic way to extend its doctrines. For example, the Christian Cross represent Christ, The palm tree stands for a martyr. Fish is the symbol of Jesus. Peacock means this eternal soul inwardly the body of every living entity is immortal Int erestingly most of the religions incur plants, animals, or abstract symbols to symbolize its doctrines. Religious symbols are also changed with the tuition of religion. Until now, the cross is often sh profess in unlike shapes and sizes, in many an(prenominal) diametric styles. It may be used in personal jewelry, or used on top of church structures.A. The importance of religion in western peoples eyesAs we know, religions have a wide-ranging influence on social life in western country. They are concerns most law, politics, art, scrimping and science. It is a long time that law and religions have the same cistron observances, traditions, authority and usuality.Before the Middle Ages, or in the Middle Ages, in Rome the Church almost have control the country. Church has its own mandate law. People are not only protected by the Natural Law, but also observe the canon law and be committed to the church, or they would be punished by the canon law. The canon law is formed by Bib le, resolution of church meeting, Popes edict and papist law.In the world of art, the religion have a far-reaching effect. One of the most famous painters, Da Vinci has painted some famous paint such as The Last Supper, The Vitruvian Man, The Baptism of Christ and so on. Even though Da Vinci is regarded as a Christian. The Last Supper the most reproduced religious painting of all time. Perhaps you have known a best seller make named The Da Vinci Code . In the book , the writer has given as a new side to understand The Last Supper . He thinks that there is a big secret hidden in The Last Supper. It is about the Holy Grail which is an argument in Christianity. The writer also takes Da Vinci incorporated in many of his Christian paintings hidden symbolism that was anything but Christian-tributes to his own notions and a subtle thumbing of his nose at the Church (Dan Brown,2003,p50) Although the stall is not agree with most pursuers ,but I think Da Vince can not draw these works w ith any effects of religion.If you are a careful person or a politic enthusiastic, you may call attention the inaugural speech of the USA. Almost all the presidents of American bequeath say God bless you, God bless the United States of American . at the end of the speech. It is regarded as the most axiomatic example of the effect religion in politics. The incumbent president, Obama in his inaugural speech says We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers. To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, ground on mutual interest and mutual detect. You can find that the disciples of religion are also the important source of votes. And the church also has a give out of social capital. Church can provide a commode of volunteers for community work. The church holds the non-governmental organization such as hospital, orphanage, and a homeless centre to condenseher. In fact, most of primary school in American are hold by church.Religion has a far-re aching influence in western peoples life. Ninety-five percent Americans are blamed he believes god. They may go to church every week and tell the god what they have done or what they want to do next week. Even more remarkable, Christian would pray before their meal in order to convey god for his gentleness. When they face some line or difficulties, they may romance god for power. Most Christians believe that they will go into heaven if they do something near(a)., or they help god to punish wretcheds. In western countries, there are also some festivals connected with religion. Christmas, Easter, All Saints Day are known by us. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus. It is the most important festival in western countries.The important use of the religious symbols during religious activitiesWhen we talk about religious symbols, we must understand what it is. In the comportment of my paper, I have given you the definition in the dictionary of symbol. But I think religious symbol have a little different with it. Religious symbols are a mark used as a token of something invisible. Religious symbols have a perpetual connection with the significance. They must respect a concept which is hard to deeply understand and hold in the round.As the brain of religious symbols, Here, I want to point out three important use of them in religious activities.The first one is conveyance. In religious activities, religious symbols are treated as a paper. On the paper, the wish of us has been written . Colors have considered as a religious symbols. There are two groups of color in Christianity. The first group is red, egg white, green and blue. They are used to explain the hope of life, pure, peace and beautiful. The b overlook, brown, grey and yellow are stand for danger, death and unclean. So you may find that in western countrys celebration of a marriage, the spousal dress must be white, and the subgenus Pastor should wear a white or red shawl to bless the new couple. But in the funeral, the pastor may wear a black shawl to make a memorialisation speech. The religious symbols have been used us a way to ventilate some information to others. Actually, the cathedral is not only a place for prayer, but also a symbol of religion. People prayed to god to constrain their family from harm or forgive their crimes. Here god show his mercy to all of us. Then the cathedral has been treat as a mental hospital of our soul. It convey the order of the god to us and point out the way forward.The second is connection. During the religious activities, we often see the Christian to make the sign of the cross over so as to sanctify or devotion. Exactly, they think it is a way to communicate with god. When they make the cross, the soul is connecting with god. They will get the message from the god. On the other side, the cross is considered as the symbol of god. It is the God incarnate. They pray before the cross in order to inspire from the god and clean their soul.The third is decoration. The Christian Cross is often used on the top of the church. Firstly, it symbolize it is a church and its awfulness. But the second is decoration. Actually, religious symbols are widely used in religious building and arts. Cross, rise and four colors which I have instal to you in the front of my paper, are three kinds of common elements in Christian building. When you walk into a church, you may observe the window carefully. There are a draw play of pictures on the window. Most of these pictures describe a story between pope and his knights. You can easily find that cross is used on the hold of knight and his c doweryh. Of course, most of pictures can not get through with color. Christianity likes to use white, blue, green and golden to decorate these pictures. There is one important plant in Christianity. The vines is to Christianity what lotus is to Buddhism. In Bible, there are a lot of story mentioned the vines For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. (Matthew, 201) So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. (Matthew, 208) And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?(Judges 913) There are some other place mentioned vines such as Isaiah 5 1-7, Mark 121, Luke 209 and so on. That is why vines can be use on the wall of churchs building and the martyrs tomb.III.The semiotic characteristics of religious symbolsIn the front of my paper, we have depth psychology the religious symbols through the cultural semiotics and general semiotics. Actually, Semiotic has been divide into linguistic semiotics, general semiotics, cultural semiotics. Religious symbols are various in forms and loaded content. They are full of or characterized by semiotic meaning.A. The c haracteristics of semioticsWe should analysis the status and influence of present-day(a) semiotics in two aspects come forth and substance. On the face of it, Semiotics has been not an free subject. The achievements in scientific research are not noticeable and some of the achievements are lack of quality. Judging by substance, semiotics has been widely used in most of the humanities. More and more celebrated scholars be engaged in semiotics research. The phenomenon reflects the exuberant vitality of semiotics. In Li Youzheng book-Introduction to Theoretical Semiotics, the writer introduce the complex of Semiotics. Mostlymy opinion is also based on this book.In Introduction to Theoretical Semiotics, the write definite the semiotics like this Semiotics is a subject which analyzes sign, semiosis or the function of sign. (Li Youzheng, 1996.p.2) and symbol is belong to its study. So as far as I am concerned, Semiotics has three attach characteristics.Firstly, Semiotics has a long h istory. Posner has divided it into sixsome types antique Greece and Rome, Ancient and Middle Age, Middle Age western semiotics history, the modern western, the contemporary western, The concept of non-Western notation history. (Historical and Theory, a Journal Chinese, 1988.P116-117). The history of semiotics is introduce back to 3000 B.C. But until the 60th age, the semiotics is treat as an independent discipline, which emerges in French, American and Soviet.SecondlySemiotics is a complicated and across-the-board science. Li Youzheng also divides the semiotics into three parts linguistic semiotics, general semiotics and cultural semiotics. Linguistic semiotics has used linguistic, phonemics, semantics, stylistics and rhetoric. Linguistic semiotics must use coordination of several subjects to explore the meaning of symbols or signs. Compared with linguistic semiotics, perhaps general semiotics is a little simpler. But it also involves various theories such as Morrices conception of theory of sign system, Ecos typology of signs, Peirces Typology of signs, Non-Strcit cipher systems. These theories are all important and never be neglected in the semiotic history.Lastlythe cross-cultural research is extremely difficulty. The most obvious point is the understanding of a symbol In most influenced by Buddhism, people think that respects constancy and auspicious indication. But in World War 2. Hitler chooses it to be the sign of Nazi. Hitler consider the Aryans is the best induce all around the world. is the symbol of Aryans. Another is color. In western country, rose is the symbol of love, and red symbolize the passion, but sometimes it refers to scarlet woman. As I know, red always refers to pure love and happy in China and India. Chinese bride always wears a red dress. So we can easily find that different cultural take different understanding of symbols and sign. When we are going to analysis the meaning of a symbol or sign across culture, it may take a bi g problem to us.The characteristics of religious symbolsThe same as the semiotics, the religious symbols have a long history. At the beginning of my paper, I have introduced the original religious symbol Totem to you. Religious symbols almost have the same history of humans civilization.With the development of religion and civilization, religious symbols also have different forms. is the symbol of Islam named head and crescent. It standard bright and perfect. is a special symbol. There are many ideas about the symbolic meaning of the Star of David. Some Kabbalists think that the six points represented Gods absolute rule over the universe in all six directions north, south, east, west, up and down. They also believed that the triangles represented humanitys dual nature good and evil and that the wizard could be used as protection against evil spirits. The structure of the star, with two overlapping triangles, has also been thought to represent the birth between God and the Jewis h people. The star that points up symbolizes God and the star that points down represents us here on earth. Yet others have spy that there are twelve sides on the triangle, perhaps representing the Twelve Tribes. Until now, people still have an absolute meaning of the Star of David. A lot of religious symbols have an obscure meaning. You can not only understand it by its structure or shape. For example, lamb in Christianity means the resurrection of Christ from the death. Can you say it means meekness and prettiness? Absolutely notThe connection of semiotics and religious symbolsAfter the analysis of characteristics of semiotics and religious symbols, we can find that religious symbols have a much durable history than semiotics. But symbols as the research subject, we have analysis by the systematization of semiotics. Semiotics can explain the meaning of symbols by different aspects and draw a correct conclusion. Although symbols are a complex and iridescent system, semiotics alw ays gives us an rational sublimation. Symbol also accelerates the draw close of semiotics. It is hard for me to find a suitable metaphor to describe the relationship between them. But I think if symbols is water, the semiotics must be fish. The fish can not live without water. Without fish the water will never be vibrant.IV.ConclusionHaviland said Religion can be seen as an organized series of supernatural powers belief or ceremonies.(William A. Haviland, 2005,p.392).Religious symbols are a part of our belief. Semiotics is a tool of investigation. It may be not consummate and comprehensive, but it has afforded us a direction to analysis our belief system. Also that is the point we need to work for. Modern semiotics is a new branch of knowledge. It has been neglect for a long time. Its popularity must take a brain-storm in research of symbols.