The metamorphosis of Buddhism synchronizing with alterations in political ideology, rapid
economic growth, and evolving societal demands in China’s new era is the focus of this
book. It traces the metamorphosis to 2002 when the Communist Party of China declared
upholding traditional Chinese culture, including Buddhism, to be essential to its leadership.
The chapters offer rich case studies of updated “authentic” Buddhist teachings by clerics
and other innovations in temples and nunneries, new lay communities and their practices,
and the emergence of Buddhist cultural sites ranging from scenic areas to mega-expos.
The comprehensive view of Buddhism in China illustrates how Buddhism is going beyond
state-imposed boundaries of religious space. With a primary focus on Mahayana Buddhism
practiced among Han Chinese, it also considers interactions with Theravada and Tibetan
Buddhism, as well as Confucianism, Daoism, and folk beliefs. The eleven contributing
scholars—experts in anthropology, history, philosophy, religious studies, and sociology—
draw on extensive fieldwork to provide transdisciplinary analyses of the metamorphosis,
raising key questions about the dynamics of religious space
1. Metamorphosis of Buddhism in New Era China: Framework of the Analysis Yoshiko Ashiwa, David L. Wank, and Ji Zhe
2. Theravada Meditation in Modern Chinese Buddhism with a Focus on Mahasati Dynamic Vipassana¯ in Shifo Temple. Ester Bianchi
3. Taixu’s Vision of a World Buddhist Academy in New Era China: Discourses, Designs, Realities Yoshiko Ashiwa and David L. Wank
4. Vinaya and Volunteers: Updating Tradition and Initiating Change at Pushou Temple Amandine Péronnet
5. In the Name of “Wushu Chan”: Reinventing Chan Buddhist Meditative Traditions in Shaolin Temple Lufeng Xu
6. Innovations in Lay Buddhist Education in the Sinophone Tibetan Buddhist Milieu: The Rise of the Larung Textual Community Catherine Hardie
7. Saving the Aborted Fetus Spirit, Saving the World: Agencies, Varieties, and Implications of a Ritual Invention Ji Zhe
8. Buddhist Temple as a Social Abstraction: An Analysis of Nunnery Relocation in Shanghai Weishan Huang
9. Blurring the Religious and Secular Spaces: The Development of the Famen Temple Buddha Cultural Scenic Area Uchralt Otehode and Paul J. Farrelly
10. Combining Meanings in the Popular Realm: Buddhist and Governmental Engagements in a Syncretic “Scenic Area” Guillaume Dutournier
11. Chinese Buddhism in the Global Market: Analysis of the Xiamen International Buddhist Items & Crafts Fair Yoshiko Ashiwa and David L. Wank
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