Popular Religion in Modern China : The New Role of Nuo

Since the early 1980s, China's rapid economic growth and social transformation have greatly altered the role of popular religion in the country. This book makes a new contribution to the research on the phenomenon by examining the role which popular religion has played in modern Chinese politics. Popular Religion in Modern China uses Nuo as an example of how a popular religion has been directly incorporated into the Chinese Community Party's (CCP) policies and how the religion functions as a tool to maintain socio-political stability, safeguard national unification and raise the country's cultural 'soft power' in the eyes of the world. It provides rich new material on the interplay between contemporary Chinese politics, popular religion and economic development in a rapidly changing society. This Book Examines The Role Popular Religion Has Played In Modern Chinese Politics. The Popular Religion Of Nuo Will Be Used As An Example Of How The New Role Has Enabled The Religion To Be Directly Incorporated Into The Chinese Community Party's Policies, To Be Viewed As Supporting The Legitimacy Of The Regime, And To Function As A Tool To Enhance National Cohesion And Safeguard National Unification. This Volume Provides New Material On The Interplay Between Contemporary Chinese Politics, Popular Religion And Economic Development In A Rapidly Changing Society Of Mainland China. Cover Contents List of Figures Acknowledgements 1 Problem and Method 2 Shenxi and Tujia Society 3 Tujia Cosmology 4 Nuo 5 Nuo as a Cultural Marker of the Tujia 6 Nuo and State Ideology 7 Nuo, Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Commercialisation of Culture 8 Conclusion Glossary Bibliography Index