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E-book
Author Feuchtwang, Stephan

Title The anthropology of religion, charisma, and ghosts : Chinese lessons for adequate theory / Stephan Feuchtwang
Published Berlin ; New York : W. de Gruyter, ©2010

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Description 1 online resource (vii, 213 pages)
Series Religion and society ; v. 46
Religion and society (Hague, Netherlands) ; 46.
Contents Frontmatter -- Contents -- Chapter 1. Introduction -- Part 1. Religion -- Chapter 2. 'Religion' and its historical transfer into China -- Chapter 3. 'A Chinese religion exists' -- Chapter 4. A theory of religious ritual as deference and communicative excess -- Part 2. Charisma -- Chapter 5. The Organisation of Extravagance as Charismatic authority and Self-government -- Chapter 6. Charismatic self-healing: a case of spirit-writing in Taiwan under Japanese occupation -- Chapter 7. Charisma in China -- Part 3. Ghosts -- Chapter 8. The avenging ghost -- Chapter 9. Between temporalities: a case study of the transmission of loss in Taiwan -- Chapter 10. Between death and life: a location of ghosts and demons -- Chapter 11. 'Religion' in the government of the People's Republic of China: policy-led redefinition and openings in political space -- Backmatter
Summary China has many religions. But rituals of local temples are none of these. They celebrate many gods and their powers to respond. Gods are invited as welcome guests by appropriate rituals of welcome and communication. Other rituals pacify ghosts and harmful powers. These rituals are rich with their own poetry, a poetry of performance, not just of contemplation. Interpreting this poetry demands revision of theories of ritual and religion. The author has spent over four decades studying Chinese ritual and religion through observation in contemporary China and Taiwan, constantly revising and rethinking theories of religion, ritual and their role in different political regimes
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-210) and index
Notes In English
Print version record
Subject Ritual -- China
Ghosts -- China
Ritual -- Taiwan
Ghosts -- Taiwan
RELIGION -- Reference.
Ghosts
Religion
Ritual
Charisma
Geister
Ritual
Religion
Anthropologie
SUBJECT China -- Religion. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85024177
Taiwan -- Religion. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85132003
Subject China
Taiwan
China
Taiwan
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9783110223569
3110223562
9783110223552
3110223554