The Politics of Legitimation and the Revival of Popular Religion in Shaanbei, North-Central China on JSTOR

Modern China

Description:

Spanning the full sweep of Chinese studies of six centuries, Modern China encourages scholarship that crosses over the old "premodern/modern" and "modern/contemporary" divides. In addition to research articles, Modern China presents periodic symposia on important topics in Chinese studies, critical essays on the state of Chinese studies, in-depth review articles on particular areas of scholarship, and reviews of books of unusual quality and significance.

Coverage: 1975-2015 (Vol. 1, No. 1 - Vol. 41, No. 6)

Moving Wall: 3 years (What is the moving wall?)

The "moving wall" represents the time period between the last issue available in JSTOR and the most recently published issue of a journal. Moving walls are generally represented in years. In rare instances, a publisher has elected to have a "zero" moving wall, so their current issues are available in JSTOR shortly after publication.
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ISSN: 00977004

EISSN: 15526836

Subjects: Asian Studies, History, History, Area Studies

Collections: Arts & Sciences II Collection, Asia Collection, JSTOR Essential Collection

Abstract

From the early 1980s onward, popular religion has enjoyed a momentous revival in Shaanbei (northern Shaanxi province), as in many other parts of rural China. But despite its immense popularity, popular religion still carries with it an aura of illegality and illegitimacy. Not properly Daoism or Buddhism, which are among the officially recognized religions, popular religion in theory constitutes illegal, superstitious activities. This article addresses questions of the legality and legitimacy of popular religion by analyzing the case of the Black Dragon King Temple in Shaanbei and its temple boss. It examines how not just popular religiosity but the actions of local elites and local state agents have enabled the revival of popular religious activities, focusing particularly on the legitimation politics engaged in by temples and their leaders.

Dec	APR	Apr
	28
2018	2019	2020

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The Politics of Legitimation and the Revival of Popular Religion in Shaanbei, North-Central China

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Abstract