Paul Katz is Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica. He received his B.A. from Yale in 1984 and his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1990. After teaching at different universities in Taiwan from 1991 to 2002, he joined the Institute of Modern History in 2002, and became Program Director of the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange in 2005. His research centers on modern Chinese religious life, with his most recent monograph (Religion in China and its Modern Fate) being published in early 2014. At present, he is working on the interaction between Han and non-Han religious traditions in Southwest China Address: Academia Sinica Institute of Modern History Nankang, Taipei 11529 TAIWAN
This paper attempts to provide an overview of how modern Chinese Buddhists worked to blend self-c... more This paper attempts to provide an overview of how modern Chinese Buddhists worked to blend self-cultivation and family life, with a focus on the ideal of the "Buddhicized family" (Fohua jiating 佛化家庭) as expressed in the writings of the lay Buddhist elite Chen Hailiang 陳海量 (1910-1983), which provided spiritual and material advice for readers striving to achieve equilibrium between religious requirements and social norms. Due to his extensive work with young Buddhist men and women who were seeking spouses, getting married, and starting their own families, Chen's works paid close attention to issues of gender and sexuality, including childbirth, menstruation, masturbation, etc. Chen's vision of modern Buddhist family life sheds light on significant processes of change taking place in the early twentieth century, with that religion's urban elites seeking to define their approach to Buddhism in such a way that both maintained their commitment to social activism yet established the basis for a rich religious life. The data below highlight the complexity of Buddhist thought during the modern era, the interaction between religious discourses and others circulating at that time, and the continuing relevance of these issues in present-day Chinese societies around the world.
Religious Publishing and Print Culture in Modern China, 1800-2012, 2014
This paper presents a preliminary examination of the historical development of one leading religi... more This paper presents a preliminary examination of the historical development of one leading religious publishing enterprise in modern China, the Illuminating Goodness Bookstore (Mingshan shuju 明善書局). I explore different facets of its history, paying particular attention to the elites who founded and/or managed the bookstore, the religious movements they belonged to, their motivations for engaging in religious publishing, and the categorization systems that they brought to the dissemination of religious knowledge.
This paper examines elite memories of religious life in modern Wenzhou by focusing on a lengthy a... more This paper examines elite memories of religious life in modern Wenzhou by focusing on a lengthy account (two volumes exceeding 100,000 Chinese characters) entitled Historical Materials on Wenzhou’s Old Customs (Wenzhou jiusu shiliao 溫州舊俗史料), compiled during the Great Leap Forward. In order to assess this work’s historical significance, I trace the identities of the elites who composed it as well as their motivations in doing so. Consideration is also given to the text’s place in modern historical writing about local society and the categories used to classify different types of so-called “old customs” (jiusu 舊俗). The paper’s conclusion argues that while the modern Chinese state has long been concerned about the persistence of religious activities it labels “superstition” (mixin 迷信), many local elites have striven to legitimize their religious cultures, including in the realm of historical writing.
Religious Development in Modern Chinese History: Collected Essays, 2015
This paper will explore the importance of spirit-writing rituals (扶乩 / 扶鸞 / 飛鸞) in Republican-era... more This paper will explore the importance of spirit-writing rituals (扶乩 / 扶鸞 / 飛鸞) in Republican-era Shanghai. Its main goal is to assess how such rites contributed to the formation of modern elite identities, while also considering spirit-writing's place in China’s urban cultural field.
This essay assesses James L. Watson’s argument that ritual orthopraxy promoted by the state and l... more This essay assesses James L. Watson’s argument that ritual orthopraxy promoted by the state and local elites played a key role in the formation of cultural unity in late imperial China. After opening with a brief review of Watson’s previous scholarship on standardization and cultural unity, it focuses on two case studies about non-state processes of standardization that accompanied but did not necessarily mimic those of the state. The first concerns the cult of one of the most popular plague-fighting deities in late imperial China, Marshal Wen), whose cult was promoted by Taoists who strove to promote liturgical orthopraxy by insisting that Taoist deities should only receive vegetarian offerings and Taoist titles. The second concerns sacrifices to banners performed by officials, local militias, bandits, rebels, and members of secret societies. Of particular interest here are the ways in which people belonging to the latter three groups adopted the state’s practice of banner worship while also reformulating its nature and significance.
This paper explores the significance of a set of Han Chinese rituals
and dramas known as “Repayin... more This paper explores the significance of a set of Han Chinese rituals and dramas known as “Repaying a Nuo Vow” (Huan Nuoyuan 還儺願), based on the study of their performance among the Miao (苗) of Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西). I examine the cultural significance of the Repaying a Nuo Vow rituals from three perspectives: 1) a case study of one such rite held at Hulu (葫蘆) Village in Huayuan (花垣) County on November 15-16, 2011; 2) additional data that other scholars have collected about these rites throughout Western Hunan, including among both Miao and Tujia 土家 communities; 3) historical and ethnographic information on such rituals performed in other parts of Southwest China.
This paper presents preliminary data and analysis of modern religious life in Western Hunan (Xian... more This paper presents preliminary data and analysis of modern religious life in Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西), covering in particular temple cults, ritual specialists, and their spatial aspects. These findings represent one result of my five-year Academia Sinica Investigator Award project. The project’s main goal has been to work with scholars and local experts to explore the development of this region’s religious traditions during the modern era.
In January of 1942 Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西) was rocked by a Miao 苗 uprising against Nationalist... more In January of 1942 Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西) was rocked by a Miao 苗 uprising against Nationalist rule; it ended in August after leaders had been tricked into surrendering. The goal of this paper is to examine both the beliefs and practices of the Miao warrior culture that underlay the uprising, and their significance for modern Chinese history. The bulk of scholarship on the uprising tends to label its religious factors as “superstition,” while also neglecting the significance of women’s roles in the mobilization process. In contrast, this study describes how beliefs in savior figures and how mass possession rituals led by Miao female mediums were critical in quickly motivating the Miao fighters, with Miao montagnards choosing to die on their feet rather than survive on their knees. Such phenomena were hardly limited to Western Hunan, and thus we can find in other parts of China, and in the world, numerous uprisings featuring charismatic religious figures who staged possession rituals designed to bestow such things as invulnerability in battle.
This paper critically assesses leading research on Taiwanese popular religion published during th... more This paper critically assesses leading research on Taiwanese popular religion published during the past two decades, including by historians of religion and social scientists. It pays special attention to the challenges (and opportunities) provided by the study of Taiwan's vibrant religious traditions, which have produced a wealth of textual materials yet can also be researched by using ethnographic methods and collecting survey data. Another conundrum that Taiwanese scholars face involves how to effectively utilise the ever-increasing body of data about religious life in modern Chinese history and among Chinese communities throughout the world. The review's scope centres on research results from the past 20 years that examine temple cults and festivals; it will not discuss Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, and other foreign religions, as well as the religions practiced by Taiwan's indigenous peoples. However, it will occasionally mention scholarship on voluntary religious movements, especially those that perform spirit-writing rituals. Keywords Taiwanese popular religion-temple cults-festivals-voluntary religious movements-spirit-writing rituals Introductory Remarks This paper critically assesses leading research on Taiwanese popular religion published during the past two decades, including by historians of religion and
The Fifty Years that Changed Chinese Religion, 1898–1948, 2021
In recent years, both scholars and the general public have become increasingly fascinated by the ... more In recent years, both scholars and the general public have become increasingly fascinated by the role of religion in modern Chinese life. However, the bulk of attention has been devoted to changes caused by the repression of the Maoist era and subsequent religious revival. The Fifty Years That Changed Chinese Religion breaks new ground by systematically demonstrating that equally important transformative processes occurred during the period covering the last decade of the Qing dynasty and the entire Republican period. Focusing on Shanghai and Zhejiang, this book delves in depth into the real-life workings of social structures, religious practices and personal commitments as they evolved during this period of wrenching changes. At the same time, it goes further than the existing literature in terms of theoretical models and comparative perspectives, notably with other Asian countries such as Korea and Japan.
This paper attempts to provide an overview of how modern Chinese Buddhists worked to blend self-c... more This paper attempts to provide an overview of how modern Chinese Buddhists worked to blend self-cultivation and family life, with a focus on the ideal of the "Buddhicized family" (Fohua jiating 佛化家庭) as expressed in the writings of the lay Buddhist elite Chen Hailiang 陳海量 (1910-1983), which provided spiritual and material advice for readers striving to achieve equilibrium between religious requirements and social norms. Due to his extensive work with young Buddhist men and women who were seeking spouses, getting married, and starting their own families, Chen's works paid close attention to issues of gender and sexuality, including childbirth, menstruation, masturbation, etc. Chen's vision of modern Buddhist family life sheds light on significant processes of change taking place in the early twentieth century, with that religion's urban elites seeking to define their approach to Buddhism in such a way that both maintained their commitment to social activism yet established the basis for a rich religious life. The data below highlight the complexity of Buddhist thought during the modern era, the interaction between religious discourses and others circulating at that time, and the continuing relevance of these issues in present-day Chinese societies around the world.
Religious Publishing and Print Culture in Modern China, 1800-2012, 2014
This paper presents a preliminary examination of the historical development of one leading religi... more This paper presents a preliminary examination of the historical development of one leading religious publishing enterprise in modern China, the Illuminating Goodness Bookstore (Mingshan shuju 明善書局). I explore different facets of its history, paying particular attention to the elites who founded and/or managed the bookstore, the religious movements they belonged to, their motivations for engaging in religious publishing, and the categorization systems that they brought to the dissemination of religious knowledge.
This paper examines elite memories of religious life in modern Wenzhou by focusing on a lengthy a... more This paper examines elite memories of religious life in modern Wenzhou by focusing on a lengthy account (two volumes exceeding 100,000 Chinese characters) entitled Historical Materials on Wenzhou’s Old Customs (Wenzhou jiusu shiliao 溫州舊俗史料), compiled during the Great Leap Forward. In order to assess this work’s historical significance, I trace the identities of the elites who composed it as well as their motivations in doing so. Consideration is also given to the text’s place in modern historical writing about local society and the categories used to classify different types of so-called “old customs” (jiusu 舊俗). The paper’s conclusion argues that while the modern Chinese state has long been concerned about the persistence of religious activities it labels “superstition” (mixin 迷信), many local elites have striven to legitimize their religious cultures, including in the realm of historical writing.
Religious Development in Modern Chinese History: Collected Essays, 2015
This paper will explore the importance of spirit-writing rituals (扶乩 / 扶鸞 / 飛鸞) in Republican-era... more This paper will explore the importance of spirit-writing rituals (扶乩 / 扶鸞 / 飛鸞) in Republican-era Shanghai. Its main goal is to assess how such rites contributed to the formation of modern elite identities, while also considering spirit-writing's place in China’s urban cultural field.
This essay assesses James L. Watson’s argument that ritual orthopraxy promoted by the state and l... more This essay assesses James L. Watson’s argument that ritual orthopraxy promoted by the state and local elites played a key role in the formation of cultural unity in late imperial China. After opening with a brief review of Watson’s previous scholarship on standardization and cultural unity, it focuses on two case studies about non-state processes of standardization that accompanied but did not necessarily mimic those of the state. The first concerns the cult of one of the most popular plague-fighting deities in late imperial China, Marshal Wen), whose cult was promoted by Taoists who strove to promote liturgical orthopraxy by insisting that Taoist deities should only receive vegetarian offerings and Taoist titles. The second concerns sacrifices to banners performed by officials, local militias, bandits, rebels, and members of secret societies. Of particular interest here are the ways in which people belonging to the latter three groups adopted the state’s practice of banner worship while also reformulating its nature and significance.
This paper explores the significance of a set of Han Chinese rituals
and dramas known as “Repayin... more This paper explores the significance of a set of Han Chinese rituals and dramas known as “Repaying a Nuo Vow” (Huan Nuoyuan 還儺願), based on the study of their performance among the Miao (苗) of Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西). I examine the cultural significance of the Repaying a Nuo Vow rituals from three perspectives: 1) a case study of one such rite held at Hulu (葫蘆) Village in Huayuan (花垣) County on November 15-16, 2011; 2) additional data that other scholars have collected about these rites throughout Western Hunan, including among both Miao and Tujia 土家 communities; 3) historical and ethnographic information on such rituals performed in other parts of Southwest China.
This paper presents preliminary data and analysis of modern religious life in Western Hunan (Xian... more This paper presents preliminary data and analysis of modern religious life in Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西), covering in particular temple cults, ritual specialists, and their spatial aspects. These findings represent one result of my five-year Academia Sinica Investigator Award project. The project’s main goal has been to work with scholars and local experts to explore the development of this region’s religious traditions during the modern era.
In January of 1942 Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西) was rocked by a Miao 苗 uprising against Nationalist... more In January of 1942 Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西) was rocked by a Miao 苗 uprising against Nationalist rule; it ended in August after leaders had been tricked into surrendering. The goal of this paper is to examine both the beliefs and practices of the Miao warrior culture that underlay the uprising, and their significance for modern Chinese history. The bulk of scholarship on the uprising tends to label its religious factors as “superstition,” while also neglecting the significance of women’s roles in the mobilization process. In contrast, this study describes how beliefs in savior figures and how mass possession rituals led by Miao female mediums were critical in quickly motivating the Miao fighters, with Miao montagnards choosing to die on their feet rather than survive on their knees. Such phenomena were hardly limited to Western Hunan, and thus we can find in other parts of China, and in the world, numerous uprisings featuring charismatic religious figures who staged possession rituals designed to bestow such things as invulnerability in battle.
This paper critically assesses leading research on Taiwanese popular religion published during th... more This paper critically assesses leading research on Taiwanese popular religion published during the past two decades, including by historians of religion and social scientists. It pays special attention to the challenges (and opportunities) provided by the study of Taiwan's vibrant religious traditions, which have produced a wealth of textual materials yet can also be researched by using ethnographic methods and collecting survey data. Another conundrum that Taiwanese scholars face involves how to effectively utilise the ever-increasing body of data about religious life in modern Chinese history and among Chinese communities throughout the world. The review's scope centres on research results from the past 20 years that examine temple cults and festivals; it will not discuss Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, and other foreign religions, as well as the religions practiced by Taiwan's indigenous peoples. However, it will occasionally mention scholarship on voluntary religious movements, especially those that perform spirit-writing rituals. Keywords Taiwanese popular religion-temple cults-festivals-voluntary religious movements-spirit-writing rituals Introductory Remarks This paper critically assesses leading research on Taiwanese popular religion published during the past two decades, including by historians of religion and
The Fifty Years that Changed Chinese Religion, 1898–1948, 2021
In recent years, both scholars and the general public have become increasingly fascinated by the ... more In recent years, both scholars and the general public have become increasingly fascinated by the role of religion in modern Chinese life. However, the bulk of attention has been devoted to changes caused by the repression of the Maoist era and subsequent religious revival. The Fifty Years That Changed Chinese Religion breaks new ground by systematically demonstrating that equally important transformative processes occurred during the period covering the last decade of the Qing dynasty and the entire Republican period. Focusing on Shanghai and Zhejiang, this book delves in depth into the real-life workings of social structures, religious practices and personal commitments as they evolved during this period of wrenching changes. At the same time, it goes further than the existing literature in terms of theoretical models and comparative perspectives, notably with other Asian countries such as Korea and Japan.
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and dramas known as “Repaying a Nuo Vow” (Huan Nuoyuan 還儺願),
based on the study of their performance among the Miao (苗) of Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西). I examine the cultural significance of the Repaying a Nuo Vow rituals from three perspectives: 1) a case study of one such rite held at Hulu (葫蘆) Village in Huayuan (花垣) County on November 15-16, 2011; 2) additional data that other scholars have collected about these rites throughout Western Hunan, including among both Miao and Tujia 土家 communities; 3) historical and ethnographic information on such rituals performed in other parts of Southwest China.
during the modern era.
in the mobilization process. In contrast, this study describes how beliefs in savior figures and how mass possession rituals led by Miao female mediums were critical in quickly motivating the Miao fighters, with Miao montagnards choosing to die on their feet rather than survive on their knees. Such phenomena were hardly limited to Western Hunan, and thus we can find in other parts of China, and in the world, numerous uprisings featuring charismatic religious figures who staged possession rituals
designed to bestow such things as invulnerability in battle.
and dramas known as “Repaying a Nuo Vow” (Huan Nuoyuan 還儺願),
based on the study of their performance among the Miao (苗) of Western Hunan (Xiangxi 湘西). I examine the cultural significance of the Repaying a Nuo Vow rituals from three perspectives: 1) a case study of one such rite held at Hulu (葫蘆) Village in Huayuan (花垣) County on November 15-16, 2011; 2) additional data that other scholars have collected about these rites throughout Western Hunan, including among both Miao and Tujia 土家 communities; 3) historical and ethnographic information on such rituals performed in other parts of Southwest China.
during the modern era.
in the mobilization process. In contrast, this study describes how beliefs in savior figures and how mass possession rituals led by Miao female mediums were critical in quickly motivating the Miao fighters, with Miao montagnards choosing to die on their feet rather than survive on their knees. Such phenomena were hardly limited to Western Hunan, and thus we can find in other parts of China, and in the world, numerous uprisings featuring charismatic religious figures who staged possession rituals
designed to bestow such things as invulnerability in battle.