Chinese religion and Region - Annotated Bibliography Example

Chinese religion and Region Shahar, Meir. Crazy Ji: Chinese Religion and Popular Literature (Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph). Harvard University Asia Center, 1998. Print In the late colonial and present China, Crazy Ji is one of the most vibrant deities in the pantheon. Shahar uses his cult in addressing issues concerning the Chinese religious folklore. It is a novel that is related to Chinese social structure, the role played by vernacular fiction, and popular media as employed in shaping religious beliefs. Shahar uses his novel to demonstrate the role that vernacular novels and oral literature play in knowledge dissemination in regards to deities and the development of cults. The author, using language as a tool of literature and additional other elements of literature, highlights on numerous issues within the Chinese culture and religion. The novel expounds the numerous religious beliefs. This is evident because the author presents varied forms of arguments that support Chinese religion and other views that are against some of the practices by China people. In his novel, he argues that the body of religious beliefs, which are commonly referred to as “Chinese religion,” are linked to Chinese fiction. This novel is very essential in highlighting some of the issues concerning Chinese religion. In this study, this novel is vital since it explores a broader claim that in China, the cult of a god can likely be spread from a particular region to national scale via literature, particularly novels. Therefore, the study of genre of Chinese, “religious novels” play an important role in understanding how various gods came to have various characteristics. These characteristics help in creating understanding the evolution process that what Chinese considered sacred in the pre-historic China. Various traditional and religious beliefs in practice presently are derived from these characteristics of various gods in China. Barrett, T., H. Chinese Religion in English Guise: The History of an Illusion. London: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print. This text highlights the Protestant Sonology of the nineteenth century in spite of a certain obvious spirit of autonomy. Barrett’s text explores the early days of the Chinese studies carried out through the Jesuit missionaries. This text is extremely influential in matters relating to the Chinese religions. The Chinese religion in English guise is a text that plays an essential role in understanding the accounts of Chinese religion that began to appear in English in the nineteenth century. The author uses this text to demonstrate that the Jesuit interpretation of Chinese religion was not a completely unchanging one, and various features of eventual terminology such as “neo-Confucian” could take China back to the eighteenth century. Without understanding such terminologies in Chinese religion, one cannot be able to apprehend the definition of Chinese religion. This is because of numerous aspects of Chinese religion in terms of varied notions used in explaining certain issues pertaining to the religious practices of China people. Barrett’s text is a sign of appropriate use of knowledge to explore on various terminologies that are vital in understanding the Chinese religious beliefs and practices. In this text, the author explains some of the terms to make the reader apprehend what the text talks about in regards to Chinese religion. This is important because numerous scholars do not have the knowledge of Chinese religion because very few studies focus on Chinese religion and region. Carlson, Eric. “Chinas new regulations on religion: A small step, not a great leap, forward.” Brigham Young University Law Review, 2005(3), 747-797. Print. This text begins by explaining the prevailing relationship between the Chinese government and existing religions. According to the writer, the relationship with the government is highly tensed. This affirms his position relating to the fragile relationship between the government and various religions by pinpointing the extent to which the government has gone to interfere with the operations of various religions. For instance, the State Council enacted legislation on July 7, 2004 named the “Religious Affairs Regulations.” It is as if the Chinese government has never at any given time trusted the message passed from the churches. It is unfortunate that the gap has been widening with the passage of time as the government continues to promote its hard stands against religion. According to the author, the legislation gave the government a leeway to interfere with religious activities considering that the legislation stipulated the roles of the state administrative organs in overseeing religious issues. The government has also instituted a number of procedures that seek to exhibit how the Chinese citizens gain redress. The Chinese citizens have never had the opportunity to enjoy their religious convictions for a long period. CHINA: Religion grows to test the state. 2005. United Kingdom The writer tries to explain how the expanding religious movement, which has always turned out to be the ideological authority of the Chinese Communist party, is gradually weakening. According to the author, religion has just been surviving for several decades under various atheist governments. However, the recent past religion has been reviving. This claim can be justified by the fact that a number of religious leaders have been holding vital advisory positions in both the local and central government and above all a few underground religious denominations have been receiving overwhelming support. The writer affirms in this text that religion has been granted freedom under the Chinese constitution; nonetheless, the freedom only applies to the bodies under the scrutiny of the state perhaps those that have received approval from the government. The author has gone ahead to discus extensively various forms of religions that exist in Republic China. Overmyer, Daniel, Keightley, David, Shaughnessy, Edward, Cook, Constance, and Donald Harper. “Chinese religions – the state of the field – part I – early religious traditions: The Neolithic period through the Han dynasty (ca. 4000 B.C.E. to 220 C.E.).” The Journal of Asian Studies, 54(1),1995, 124-124. Print. The writers of this text have done wonderful research to present the contemporary state of Chinese religions. The writers have begun by outlining the role of religion as well as religious beliefs in the ancient Republic of China from the Neolithic period through the Han Dynasty. The authors believe that the study of Chinese religion is an evolving and growing field. The authors believe that there is a lot that is yet uncovered in Chinese religion. The text has also appreciated the role played by various researchers in digging deep into the affairs of Chinese religion. The writers believe that the study of Chinese religion and region is not only important for its own right but also as a significant level for the study of Chinese culture. This is because several aspects of Chinese culture will not be understood without the study of Chinese religion and regions. Yanxia, Zhao. Chinese Religion: A Contextual Approach. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. 2010, pp. 6-226. Print. Yao Yanxia is a tutor in Religious Studies and the Director of Religion, Ethics, and Society. He teaches in the University of Wales, Lampeter. In his book, he presents a timeline of Chinese religion in a comprehensive perspective. The author explores China and Chinese culture by focusing on the three religions of China and the Zongjiao. In this book, the author addresses issues pertaining to religious practices, beliefs, and history in China. This new book seeks to explore and introduces the field of Chinese religion and culture. It is vital to the readers since it guides them through some of the contemporary debates and primary materials about Chinese religion. It also provides the definition of religion by highlighting religious beliefs and practices of various communities in China, and points out the importance of religion to the community, individuals, and in the political life. In this clear account, Yanzia Zao moves away from the traditional definition of Chinese religion and provides a multilayered hermeneutic of the diverse and yet multifaceted nature and functions of Chinese religion. This book has numerous discussion questions at the end of every chapter, thus allowing for further deliberations by the readers. Jeaneane, Fowler, and Merv Fowler. Chinese Religions: Beliefs and Practices. Portland, Oregon: Sussex Academic Press, 2008, pp. 23-320. Print. This book brings together the ideologies of two writers, namely Jeaneane D. Fowler, and Merv Fowler. Jeaneane explores the popular Chinese religion known as Taoism and the broader image of Chinese cosmogony. It further explores on Merv Fowler’s concerning Confucianism, Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism. This book highlights the three dynasties, rhythms of the Universe, Buddhism, NeoConfucianism, Confucianism, Religious Taoism, Popular religions, Chan Buddhism, and Chinese Religion today. This book serves as an introduction to Chinese religions and it further places much focus on the wider context of Chinese philosophy and history. Just like the geographical vastness of China, this book presents the facets of Chinese religions as broad and profound. It justifies that various Chinese beliefs have found their way into the West. Some of the examples of such theories include the theory of Yin and Yang, the Tao Te Ching, and the I Ching. This is a great book since it covers the greatest characteristics of religions in China because it encompasses all the avenues of religious thoughts throughout the stretched period of the archaic China. It further covers numerous historical pathways that make it very essential in understanding the history of China. Indiana University, Bloomington. East Asian Studies Center. Journal of Chinese religions, Issues 32-33. Society for the Study of Chinese Religions, 2004. Print. In this journal, the Indiana University seeks to highlight various aspects of Chinese religions. It affirms that Chinese religion has a large and complicated system with numerous aspects that one can study. Some of these aspects included in the journal are specific sects or deities, cults, religious organizations, and rites. This journal is vital to readers since few scholars have learnt Chinese religion and this journal, therefore, seeks to offer insight to such scholar. It further highlights the traditional Chinese beliefs and practices in the traditional China. The authors based their discussions on the expansive Chinese beliefs and practices which majority of people are likely to uncover. Most individuals, not only foreigners but also individual people of Chinese origin, are yet to understand their diverse beliefs and practices. This journal is important because it helps in creating cultural continuity of both Chinese in Malaysia and Chinese in China. Read More