Chinese Religion: A Contextual ApproachChinese Religion: A Contextual Approach is a new introduction to the field of Chinese religion and culture. It seeks to guide readers through some of the primary source material and to introduce them to continuing, contemporary debates and interpretations of religious ideas, concepts and practices in China and beyond. Defining religion as a way of life, this book examines religious beliefs and practices in particular cultural contexts, and highlights the relevance of religion to personal, communal and political life. In this clear account, Xinzhong Yao and Yanxia Zhao move away from the traditional and outmoded definition of Chinese religion, towards a multi-layered hermeneutic of the diverse and yet syncretic nature and functions of religions in China. Additional features include questions for reflection and discussion at the end of each chapter and suggestions for further reading at the end of the book. |
Contents
1 Setting the Context | 1 |
2 Religion and Zongjiao | 24 |
3 Religion in History | 45 |
4 Religion as Culture | 77 |
5 Religion in Family contexts | 103 |
6 Religion and State | 123 |
7 Religious Beliefs | 146 |
8 Religious Practices | 170 |
9 Religion as the Way of Life | 193 |
A Glossary of Chinese Characters and Terms | 200 |
A Glossary of Chinese Names and Texts | 209 |
| 214 | |
| 221 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ancestor worship ancestral temple ancient Bary and Bloom beliefs and practices blessing bodhisattva Book of Changes Buddha Buddhist Buddhist and Daoist central Chan character Chinese beliefs Chinese culture Chinese religion clan communal concept Confucian Confucius context cosmic cult cultivation Daoist divine doctrines early China example faith fengshui filial piety five elements folk-religion forces function Ge Hong Goddess gods harmony household deities human important Jade Emperor jiao king Laozi Lord meaning Mengzi Ming mutual nature Neo-Confucianism official one’s original paradigm particular Pinyin political popular religion relationship religion in China religious activities religious beliefs religious practices religious traditions reverence rites ritual sacred sacrifices sage schools secular sense Shang shen social spiritual powers spiritual world supreme syncretic Tang dynasty teachings texts three religions tian tion transformed yin and yang yuan Zhang Zhou dynasty Zhuangzi zong zongjiao