Local Religion in North China in the Twentieth Century

The Structure and Organization of Community Rituals and Beliefs
Erscheinungsjahr 2009
ISBN: 978-90-04-17592-1
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 22, 219 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 535 g

Reihe: Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 4 China

This book is a comprehensive survey of the structure, organization and institutionalization of local community religious traditions in north China villages in the twentieth century. These traditions have their own forms of leaders, deities and beliefs. Despite much local variation one everywhere finds similar temples, images, offerings and temple festivals, all supported by practical concerns for divine aid to deal with the problems of everday life. These local traditions are a structure in the history of Chinese religions; they have a clear sense of their own integrity and rules, handed down by their ancestors. There are Daoist, Buddhist and government influences on these traditions, but they must be adapted to the needs of local communities. It is the villagers who build temples and organize festivals, in which all members of the community are expected to participate and contribute. With chapters on such topics as historical origins and development, leadership and organization, temple festivals , temples and deities, and beliefs and values.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Overmyer, Daniel

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionsgeschichte
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Regional- und Städtische Wirtschaft

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword
Preface

Introduction: Themes and Contexts
I. Rain Rituals
II. History and Government
III. Leadership and Organization
IV. Temple Festivals
V. Gods and Temples
VI. Beliefs and Values
VII. Concluding and Comparative Comments

Bibliography
Glossary of Chinese Terms and Names
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Daniel L. Overmyer, Ph.D. (1971) in History of Religions, University of Chicago, is emeritus professor of Chinese religion and thought at the University of British Columbia. He has published many articles and six books, plus translations of them into Chinese and Japanese, including Precious Volumes: An Introduction to Chinese Sectarian Scriptures from the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (Harvard, 1999).