Everyday religiosity in the state sphere: folk beliefs ans practices in an Chinese state-run orphanage

The religious sector in contemporary China is often portrayed as resisting or negotiating with an interventionist state in order to survive or protect its autonomy. This article, however, shows how it enters the state sphere and imbues the presumed state agents. By exploring folk beliefs and practic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:China information
Main Author: Qian, Linliang (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage Publ. 2016
In: China information
Further subjects:B Orphan
B Religious practice
B Manners and customs
B Tradition
B China
B State institution
B Custom
B Religious policy
B Religiosity
Description
Summary:The religious sector in contemporary China is often portrayed as resisting or negotiating with an interventionist state in order to survive or protect its autonomy. This article, however, shows how it enters the state sphere and imbues the presumed state agents. By exploring folk beliefs and practices in a state-run orphanage (such as philanthropists’ activities, which they related to accumulation of karmic merits, childcare workers’ discourses, conduct associated with predestined relationships and baby ghosts, and institution officials’ preoccupation with palmistry, fortune telling and karmic retribution), and the impact of folk belief and practices on the working of the state apparatus, this study aims to enrich current scholarship by looking at state-religion interactions beyond the religious sphere and also reversing the image of Chinese religions as merely passive or reactive actors. (China Inf/GIGA)
ISSN:0920-203X
Contains:In: China information