Religion, Politics, and the Local Religious Association in China

Religion, Politics, and the Local Religious Association in China examines popular religion and its relationship to politics in contemporary rural China. The book centers on the Black Dragon King Temple in Shaanbei, presenting a detailed ethnographic study of its operations and social dynamics. Through extensive fieldwork and interviews, Chau documents how temple associations navigate relationships with local authorities while maintaining religious practices and community ties. The research reveals the complex interactions between state power, local politics, and grassroots religious organizations in post-reform China. Temple leaders engage in various social, cultural and economic activities that extend beyond purely religious functions, demonstrating the multifaceted role of religious institutions in rural Chinese society. The book traces how the temple has adapted and thrived despite periods of political restriction. This ethnography provides insight into how traditional religious institutions persist and transform within modern Chinese society, while exploring broader questions about power, legitimacy, and social organization in contemporary China.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this academic text about religious practices in rural northern China. Readers appreciated: - The detailed ethnographic observations of temple activities - Clear explanations of local religious associations' roles in Chinese society - Focus on practical organization rather than just beliefs/doctrine - Insight into how religion operates at grassroots level Main criticisms: - Writing style can be dense and academic - Some sections are repetitive - Limited scope with focus on one specific temple/region Available ratings: Goodreads: No ratings or reviews Amazon: No reviews Google Books: No reviews JSTOR: One review praising the "rich ethnographic detail" but noting the "occasionally repetitive" content The book appears primarily used in academic settings rather than for general readers, which explains the limited public reviews online. Most discussion occurs in scholarly journals rather than consumer review platforms.

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🏛️ The book focuses on the Black Dragon King Temple in Shaanbei, offering one of the first detailed ethnographic studies of a local Chinese temple in the post-Mao era. 🔄 Adam Yuet Chau introduces the concept of "doing religion" (ban miaohui) rather than "believing in religion," highlighting how Chinese religious practice is more about action than faith. 🌟 The Black Dragon King Temple became incredibly successful despite China's officially atheist state policy, growing from a small local shrine to a regional religious center in just a few years. 👥 The author demonstrates how temple associations in rural China serve as unofficial power centers, often wielding more local influence than official government institutions. 📚 Chau conducted his fieldwork while living in Shaanbei from 1995 to 1998, during a crucial period when China was experiencing rapid social and economic changes that affected religious practice.