Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction: The Study of Chinese Religion
The Understanding of Religion in China
The Understanding of Chinese Religion in the West
Recent Trends in Western Studies of Chinese Religion
Traditional Chinese Elite Values and Marxism
Religion in Contemporary China
The Study of Religion in China
The Study of Religion in Taiwan
2. The Essence of Chinese Religion
Chinese Ritual and Cultural Continuity
Ritual and Religion in Chinese Culture
Ritual and Myth in Chinese Religion: Digression I
Protohistoric Clan Ritual
Early Historic Clan Ritual
Early Historic Family Ritual
Early Traditional Ritual
Religious and Secular Ritual: Digression II
Late Traditional Ritual
Food in Chinese Culture
Modern Transformations
The Ritual Core of Chinese Religion
3. Ecstatic Functionaries in Chinese Religion I: Shamans
Shamanism in Early Chinese Texts
The Roots of Late Zhou Shamanism: Shang Religion
Conclusions
4. Ecstatic Functionaries in Chinese Religion II: Mediums
Shamanism and Mediumism (Spirit Possession)
The Enigma of Protohistoric Chinese Mediumism
Historic Mediumism
Mediums in Modern China
Mediums in Modern China
Conclusions
5. The Mystic Experience in Chinese Religion I: Transformation
The Problem
From Shamanism to Mysticism in the Zhuangzi
From Shamn to Mystic in Anishnabe Religion
Causative Factors for the Transformation
6. The Mystic Experience in Chinese Religion II: Expression
Aesthetics and the Wenren
History of Aesthetic Expressions
Aesthetics and Religion
Contemporary China
7. The Fundament of Religio-Aesthetic Expression: Stones and Seals
A History of Seals in China
Religio-Aesthetics of Stones
Seal Stones
Contemporary China
8. Female Spirits and Spirituality in Chinese Religion
Earth
The Failure of Patriarchalization
The Variability of Patriarchality
Female and Male Religious Roles and Ideology
Comparative Cosmology and Values
9. Christianity from the Perspective of Chinese Religion
Hong Xiuquan
A Contemporary Chinese Interpretation
Conclusions
Postface
Comparative Approaches
Needed Studies
Expending the Notion of Religion
Appendix: Analysis of Bronze Vessels and Decor Relevant to Chapter 4
References
Index