This chapter looks at the study of religion in China in the context of global historical change, the existence of institutional obstacles to academic inquiry, and the social reality of religious diversity and resilience in the face of... more
This chapter looks at the study of religion in China in the context of global historical change, the existence of institutional obstacles to academic inquiry, and the social reality of religious diversity and resilience in the face of political upheavals. The first section pays attention to the evolution of academic research on Chinese religions since the first arrival of European missionaries up until the beginning of the twenty-first century, acknowledging the difficulties faced by scholars along with their accomplishments, especially in the field of history. It then looks at the major trends in research and publishing about religions in the People’s Republic of China since 2000, with attention paid to the challenges faced by scholars, the ontological issue of defining Chinese religion(s) and the scholarship looking at relations between state and religion. The third section pays closer attention to the academic study relevant to specific religious traditions: it looks at academic research on Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, popular and communal religions, Confucianism, sectarian religions and redemptive societies, Christianity, and Islam. It briefly concludes with a discussion of the issues that the study of religion in China must address.
