In recent years, a remarkable revival of religious practices has taken place in China. This study by anthropologist Adam Yuet Chau goes beyond mere statistics on believers, temples, and churches. It explores how religion is intertwined with contemporary Chinese life and society, from personal devotion to community festivals.
Contents
The book covers various religions, such as Buddhism, Daoism, folk religion, Christianity, and Islam. It offers an ethnographic perspective on the current significance of religious traditions within Chinese societies.
Key Insights
- Religion is primarily understood as a practice that shapes and maintains relationships: between people, spirits, and places;
- the connection between ritual service providers and their clients;
- the role of the state and religious groups;
- Relationality forms the central anchor of religious lifeworlds.
This approach calls for a new way to approach religion globally.
Target Audience and Use
This accessible and lively work is aimed at anyone interested in Chinese or East Asian religions and is suitable for teaching, research, and self-study.
The teaching material is available in Chinese at an academic level and is supplied by Intertaal, your reliable partner for fast delivery.