Taoist Ritual and Popular Cults of Southeast China

by Kenneth Dean

Most commentators imagine contemporary China to be monolithic, atheistic, and materialist, and wholly divorced from its earlier customs, but Kenneth Dean combines evidence from historical texts and extensive fieldwork to reveal an entirely different picture. Since 1979, when the Chinese government relaxed some of its most stringent controls on religion, villagers in the isolated areas of Southeast China have maintained an "underground" effort to restore traditional rituals and local cults.

Genres: Religion

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[versarbre · Rating 3 out of 5]

The point that the Taoist provides a universal liturgical framework for local cults, thus facilitating as well as transforming the organization of local cults is very insightful and useful!! The materials are a bit dull -- for non-specialist readers.