The Wiley–Blackwell Companion to Chinese Religions

The Wiley–Blackwell Companion to Chinese Religions comprises the most up–to–date, interdisciplinary research on the study of Chinese religious beliefs and cultural practices. Featuring newly–commissioned work from a team of acclaimed experts in Chinese history, society, and religion, the companion offers readers the latest research in this rapidly growing discipline.

The volume provides a historical overview of Chinese forms of worship, with individual chapters focusing on Shang–Zhou religion, religion in the Han and Medieval periods, Sui–Tang religion, Song religion, and religion in late imperial China. It also addresses the main Chinese religious traditions of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, as well as readings on Christianity and Islam. In addition, a range of contemporary religious topics are discussed, including gods and spirits, ritual, text, nature, gender, asceticism, violence, divination, material culture, and lineage. Combining scholarly rigor with stylistic clarity, The Wiley–Blackwell Companion to Chinese Religions brings into sharp focus the rich and complex interactions of religious and philosophical traditions that developed and flourished in one of the world′s oldest civilizations.

Notes on Contributors ix

1 Introduction 1
Randall Nadeau

Part I Historical Survey 25

2 Chinese Religion in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties 27
Randall Nadeau

3 Chinese Religion from the Han to the Six Dynasties 51
Gil Raz

4 Chinese Religion in the Sui and Tang Dynasties 75
Paul Copp

5 Chinese Religion in the Song and Alien Dynasties 99
Shin–yi Chao

6 Chinese Religion in the Ming and Qing Dynasties 125
Mark Meulenbeld

Part II The Traditions 145

7 The Confucian Tradition in China 147
Keith Knapp

8 The Daoist Tradition in China 171
Louis Komjathy

9 Chinese Buddhism 197
Mario Poceski

10 Chinese Popular Religion 219
Philip Clart

11 Chinese Islam 237
James D. Frankel

12 Chinese Christianity 261
Ryan Dunch

Part III Critical Terms for the Study of Chinese Religions 283

13 Sacred Text 285
Thomas Jansen

14 Religious Ritual 309
Joshua Capitanio

15 Material Culture 335
Julius N. Tsai

16 Nature 349
James Miller

17 Divinity 369
Randall Nadeau

18 Gender 397
Beata Grant

19 Divination 419
Jue Guo

20 Asceticism 441
Stephen Eskildsen

21 Self–Inflicted Violence 461
Jimmy Yu

Index and Glossary of Chinese Characters 481

Randall L. Nadeau is Chair of the Department of Religion and Professor of East Asian Religions at Trinity University, Texas. He has published widely on such topics as popular religious literature, deity cults, and folk religion in both China and Japan, as well as methodology in the study of religion, especially Buddhism and popular religious movements.

“While different conceptualizations of the “critical terms” are certainly possible, this is a substantive volume that should benefit many readers.”  (Religious Studies Review, 7 March 2013)

“Summing Up: Recommended.  Lower–level undergraduates and above; general readers.”  (Choice, 1 November 2012)