Description: "This study of contemporary Chinese Buddhism explores the relationship between religion and the state in China, and argues that Buddhism has entered a new era since the mid-2000s. Case studies from extended fieldwork in and beyond the People's Republic of China take readers to Buddhist temples, nunneries, mega-expos, and study centres, exploring multiple traditions, institutions, and regions. This a much-needed contribution to the field of contemporary Buddhism"--
Brief description: David Wank is Visiting Researcher at the Oriental Library and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Sophia University, Japan.
Review Quotes:
"This is an exceptional study of Buddhism's evolution in China as the twenty-first century unfolds. Filled with rich case studies from accomplished experts in the field, it shows how the religion continues to adapt in creative and unexpected ways to both the evolution of state policies and continuing social change." --Gareth Fisher, Syracuse University, USA
"The in-depth and multi-year research conducted by this multi-disciplinary team of scholars presents the challenges faced by the largest population of Buddhists in the world as the Communist Party of China seeks to instrumentalize their belief system as a form of traditional culture. It articulates a thought-provoking and original understanding of the changing relationship between state and religion under Xi Jinping." --André Laliberté, University of Ottawa, Canada "Yoshiko Ashiwa, David Wank, and Ji Zhe are among the most thoughtful observers and analysts of Buddhism and the politics of religion in contemporary China. The essays in this volume demonstrate what happens when the Chinese state emphasizes Buddhism less as a religion and more as a cultural form. Metamorphosis of Buddhism in China's New Era helps us think more precisely about how Buddhist institutions and practice have responded to government policy since 2002 and is an invaluable new framing." --Thomas Borchert, University of Vermont, USA