Ho Tam, Jar with crucifix under dragon claws (FC-008) (2025)

Ho Tam  
Jar with crucifix under dragon claws (FC-008) 
2025  
inkjet on glossy photo paper  
edition of 5  
22 x 17 inches
unframed
 
 
Despite Christianity in China has a history going back to the Tang dynasty (7th century), it did not gain any influence until the past 200 years.
 
The growth has been particularly significant since the loosening of restrictions on religion since the economic reform in the late 1970s. Religious practices are still tightly controlled by government. Only adults over age 18 are permitted to be involved with officially sanctioned Christian meetings. But many Chinese Christians also meet in “unregistered” house church meetings. 
 
The Communist Party remains officially atheist, and has remained intolerant of churches outside party control.Christianity has grown rapidly, reaching 67 million people. In recent years, however, the Communist Party has looked with distrust on organizations with international ties; it tends to associate Christianity with it deems to be subversive Western values, and has closed churches and schools. In 2015, outspoken pastors in Hong Kong and their associates on the mainland came under close scrutiny from government officials.