| Budget Amount *help |
¥1,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000)
Fiscal Year 1990: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
Fiscal Year 1989: ¥1,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Moeller, B. (church historian) said, "no Towns, no Reformation". But in fact the Reformation Movement extended rapid into the country. Before we ask the reason of the extension, we must research the political, social and economical structure of villages in the country and the religious life of peasants.
In order to answer these questions, I made researches in the "Gemeinde Stafa", which is located in the shores of lake Zurich and was ruled by the city of Zurich.
Then it must be investigated, how and by which method the idea of the Reformation spread into the country. The pamphlets, which were designed to influence readers as propaganda and addressed to the general population, are very important to spread the ideas of reformation. But most of the peasants couldn't read easily the pamphlets. Broadsheets (Woodcuts) were the best method, to make them understand the ideas of the reformation, The subject matter of woodcuts is very important. The subject must be selected, in order to that the peasants could understand easily the meaning of woodcuts.
The themes must inevitably the things, which the peasants knew very well, or which related with the thought and daily life of peasants. In this study I took a woodcut of "god's mill", which widespread in south-west Germany and in Switzerland.
Who brought the pamphlets or broadsheets to the peasants in the country? They were probably lay preachers. Although inspired by Martin Luther or Urlich Zwingli, few of these preachers are dependent on the reformers for their theological ideas. The next study should be focused on their role in the Reformation.
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