Description
Book SynopsisIs Confucianism a religion? If so, why do most Chinese think it isn't? From ancient Confucian temples, to nineteenth-century archives, to the testimony of people interviewed by the author throughout China over a period of more than a decade, this book traces the birth and growth of the idea of Confucianism as a world religion. The book begins at Ox
Trade ReviewWinner of the 2014 Best Book Award, Sociology of Religion Section of the American Sociological Association Winner of the 2014 Best First Book in the History of Religions Award, American Academy of Religion One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2013 "[T]his admirable book presents a fascinating, well-researched, historical account of the establishment of Confucianism as a world religion in tandem with the emergence of comparative religion as a discipline. Sun's keen sense of history serves her equally well as she turns to contemporary issues... This well written book is strongly recommended not only for China specialists, but also for anyone seeking to understand the world's creeds and rituals... An outstanding book."--Choice "Confucianism as a World Religion is destined to become a classic, especially in Confucian studies and comparative religion... [T]his text is likely to be very popular in graduate seminars on comparative religion, Confucianism, and the sociology of religion. More of an introduction to Confucianism may be necessary for a full understanding of what Sun is up to, but this book is certainly one of the most important English-language texts on Confucianism."--Andrew Stuart Abel, American Journal of Sociology "Anna Sun's book makes an important contribution to the analysis of the contested claims about the meaning of Confucianism by boldly moving the site of this debate to actual conditions on the ground in contemporary China. Written in accessible, elegant prose, this book is well suited for courses on Chinese religion, Confucianism, or the emergence of World Religions as a discourse."--Thomas Wilson, Journal of Chinese Religions "The religiosity of Confucianism poses a challenge to all people who study Chinese religion and culture. Anna Sun takes on this challenge admirably and clears up certain hurdles and barriers that prevent us from finding an adequate answer... Sun's scholarly effort is a most welcome contribution to our understanding of historical and contemporary construction and reconstruction of Confucianism in China and beyond."--Xinzhong Yao, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies "Confucianism as a World Religion adds important new dimensions to our knowledge of Confucianism, and Anna Sun effectively places her book at the intersection of historical and sociological research, an approach that will surely inspire future studies."--Hang Lin, Journal of Chinese Political Science
Table of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xvii Introduction: Confusions over Confucianism 1 Part I: The Puzzle of Classification: How Did Confucianism Become a World Religion? Chapter 1: Four Controversies over the Religious Nature of Confucianism: A Brief History of Confucianism 17 Chapter 2: The Making of a World Religion: Confucianism and the Emergence of Comparative Religion as a Discipline in the Nineteenth Century 45 Chapter 3: The Confucianism as a Religion Controversy in Contemporary China 77 Part II: The Problem of Methodology: Who Are the Confucians in China? Chapter 4: Confucianism as a World Religion: The Legitimation of a New Paradigm 97 Chapter 5: Counting Confucians through Social Scientific Research 110 Chapter 6: To Become a Confucian: A New Conceptual Framework 120 Part III: The Reality of Practices: Is Confucianism a Religion in China Today? Chapter 7: The Emerging Voices of Women in the Revival of Confucianism 137 Chapter 8: The Contemporary Revival and Reinvention of Confucian Ritual Practices 153 Chapter 9: The Politics of the Future of Confucianism 173 Notes 185 Bibliography 215 Index 233
