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Yu Tao

The University of Western Australia, School of Social Sciences, Faculty Member

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I am University Lecturer and Major Coordinator in Chinese Studies at the University of Western Australia (UWA). I was trained in Oxford, Cambridge, and Peking University as a political sociologist with specific academic focus on contentious politics, religious groups, and contemporary China.

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Papers and Chapters by Yu Tao

Unlikely Friends of the Authoritarian and Atheist Ruler: Religious Groups and Collective Contention in Rural China

This article examines the roles played by rural religious groups in China's local contentious pol... more This article examines the roles played by rural religious groups in China's local contentious politics. More specifically, it aims to explore whether religious groups stimulate or reduce collective contention when the ruler is both authoritarian and atheist. Drawing on national survey data and comparative case studies, this article finds that collective contention is less likely to occur in villages with religious groups that simultaneously overlap with secular social organizations and local authorities, and are hence more likely to serve as credible communication channels between local states and discontented citizens. This finding highlights two important issues that are often side-lined, if not outright neglected, in the existing literature. First, the relationship between religious groups and collective contention is diverse rather than uniform. Second, this relationship is shaped not only by religious groups but also by other important players in the local political arena.

Intermediate Associations, Grassroots Elites and Collective Petitioning in Rural China

Rural China has witnessed both a massive emergence of intermediate associations and a rapid incre... more Rural China has witnessed both a massive emergence of intermediate associations and a rapid increase in collective petitioning during the past few decades. While each of these two significant socio-political phenomena has attracted considerable academic attentions, the relationship between them has yet to be carefully addressed. To narrow this gap, this chapter discusses the relationship between intermediate associations and collective petitioning in contemporary rural China, with special attention paid to the important roles that grassroots elites play in the interactions between rural intermediate associations and the local states. The chapter starts from defining key concepts such as ‘intermediate association’ and ‘collective petitioning’, and then briefly reviews some relevant theories in this field. Next, thanks to the data collected through an original survey which covers information of intermediate associations in 116 randomly selected villages in 6 Chinese provinces, the authors are able to introduce some general patterns regarding intermediate associations and collective petitioning in contemporary rural China. Given that apparently no mainstream theories could be directly applied to explain the survey results, a new framework is developed and examined through comparative case studies based on in-depth interviews toward grassroots elites in four representative villages. The empirical evident suggests that only those intermediate associations which are both embedded (i.e. some association members are grassroots elites) and self-governed (i.e. the members can independently make decisions regarding their association) can decrease the frequency of collective petitioning in Chinese villages, thanks to their capability to develop ‘trust among members’ into the ‘trust in cadres’ and thanks to the ‘bridging effects’ associated with grassroots elites. This chapter also suggests that working with intermediate associations may actually make the work of grassroots elites easier, because such a strategy allows them to make use of social authorities to cease destructive rumours and thus to make collective petitioning less likely to happen.

A Solo, a Duet or an Ensemble? Analysing the Recent Development of Religious Communities in Contemporary Rural China

ECRAN: Europe China Research and Advice Network, Mar 8, 2012

This paper describes the development of religious communities in rural China today. It explains h... more This paper describes the development of religious communities in rural China today. It explains how China’s burgeoning religious communities have acted as a powerful emerging social force in its domestic political arena, especially at the grassroots level. While Beijing now acknowledges that its anti-religious Communist policies of 1957 to 78 were wrong, its laws and regulations for implementing religious freedom have remained “frustratingly insufficient and ambiguous” over the past three decades. Drawing upon this, this paper offers a new framework to explain why religious communities in China have developed better in some places than others.

Works in Chinese by Yu Tao

英国顶尖智库的特点及其扩散涉华观点的途径(The Main Characteristics of Top British Think Tanks and Their Means of Spreading China-related Opinions)

by Yu Tao and Yan Ma

British think tanks play significant roles in opinion-shaping and policy-making both within and b... more British think tanks play significant roles in opinion-shaping and policy-making both within and beyond Europe by taking advantage of the UK’s educational and cultural resources and the country’s international influence. Through analysing how the leading British think tanks establish themselves and promote their China-related ideas and opinions, this paper argues that these think thanks are able to effectively shape public opinions and policy processes through close and active engagements with politicians, academics, and the media. In addition, these think thanks also significantly benefit from the cultural legacies of the British Empire, the fact that English is widely adopted as a professional working language, and London’s unique position as a global city.

上帝、苦难与自由意志 (The God, Sufferings, and the Free Will)

本文评介了温特森(Jeanette Winterson)的自传《寻常便好，何必快乐(Why be happy when you could be normal)?》及其第一步小说《橘子不是唯一的... more 本文评介了温特森(Jeanette Winterson)的自传《寻常便好，何必快乐(Why be happy when you could be normal)?》及其第一步小说《橘子不是唯一的水果(Oranges are not the only fruit)》。文章视图说明，世界是强大而险恶的，个体是渺小而脆弱的。然而，世界上总有像温特森那样的个体，他们明知自身渺小却不向强大的外力妥协，他们明知自己脆弱却依然在险恶的环境中坚持信念，他们不仅改变了自己的命运，也改变了自己生活的这个世界。事实上，正是因为有了他们和他们的自由意志，这个世界才在浑噩、堕落、投机与虚华之间，有了变得更好的可能。

故事背后有故事 (Narratives underlying the Stories)

本文评介了沈艾娣(Henrietta Harrison)于2013年出版的著作《传教士之诅与一个中国天主教村庄的其他故事(The Missionary's Curse and Other Tal... more 本文评介了沈艾娣(Henrietta Harrison)于2013年出版的著作《传教士之诅与一个中国天主教村庄的其他故事(The Missionary's Curse and Other Tales from a Chinese Catholic Village)》。笔者认为，沈艾娣的高明之处，在于她选择了一个大有深度的小切口。她以一个村庄的历史和“故事”作为学术求索的出发点，却没有让这个村庄和这些故事限制住自己的视野和思绪。所以，本书虽然内容异常丰富，线索却十分清晰；叙事虽然跨越了三百年，但又取舍得当、详略分明。可见，微观史要想写得荡气回肠，作者得首先做到胸中有丘壑。

群众社团与农村基层冲突治理 (Intermediate Organisations and Grassroot Conflicts Resolution in Rural China)

当今中国农村的群众社团与基层冲突关系密切，治理基层冲突应当重视发挥群众社团的作用。通过案例研究及比较发现，兼具自主性和嵌入性的群众社团更能同时获得群众和基层干部认可，从而能够更好地消解制度外冲突... more 当今中国农村的群众社团与基层冲突关系密切，治理基层冲突应当重视发挥群众社团的作用。通过案例研究及比较发现，兼具自主性和嵌入性的群众社团更能同时获得群众和基层干部认可，从而能够更好地消解制度外冲突，保证基层矛盾在制度框架内得以解决。通过统计分析发现，兼具自主性和嵌入性的群众社团不仅能够消解集体上访等制度外的群体冲突，还能消解抗缴税费等制度外的个体冲突。

中国农村社团的发育、纠纷调解与群体性上访 (Farmers' Associations, Contention Mediation and Collective Petitions in Rural China)

在总结中国农村社团和群体性抗争活动既有研究的基础上，本文通过随机抽样数据的定量分析，描述了民间社团在中国农村的发育情况，重点讨论了具备两个性质的“农村半独立社团”。第一,社团的实际负责人不是政府... more 在总结中国农村社团和群体性抗争活动既有研究的基础上，本文通过随机抽样数据的定量分析，描述了民间社团在中国农村的发育情况，重点讨论了具备两个性质的“农村半独立社团”。第一,社团的实际负责人不是政府官员或村干部；第二,社团的重大决策不需经由基层政府或村干部批准。实证研究发现，当这些“半独立的社团”具备了社会纠纷调解职能时，就可以有效地削减村庄的大规模群体性上访，而由官方控制的负责治保或民调类的社团却无法达到同样的效果。文章结合实地调查的经验，对该实证发现的现实机理及其政策含义进行了多方面探讨。

Doctoral Thesis by Yu Tao

‘Enemies of the State’ or ‘Friends of the Harmonious Society’? Religious Groups, Varieties of Social Capital, and Collective Contention in Contemporary Rural China

Please refer to the uploaded pages.

Book Reviews by Yu Tao

Book Review of East Asian Societies

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book Review of East Asian Societies by W. Lawrence Neuman. Political Studies Revie... more

Book Review of Political Sociology in a Global Era

Tao, Yu. 2015. Political Sociology in a Global Era: An Introduction to the State and Society by B... more

Book Review of Contestation and Adaptation

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book review of Contestation and Adaptation: The Politics of National Identity in C... more

Book Review of China Across the Divide

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book review of China Across the Divide: The Domestic and Global in Politics and So... more

Book Review of A Middle Class Without Democracy

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book review of A Middle Class Without Democracy: Economic Growth and the Prospects... more

Book Review of Understanding Chinese Politics

Tao, Yu. 2014. Book review of Understanding Chinese Politics: An Introduction to Government in th... more

Book Review of Ruling, Resources and Religion in China

Tao, Yu. 2014. Book review of Ruling, Resources and Religion in China: Managing the Multiethinic ... more

Book Review of Zhu Rongji Meets the Press

Tao, Yu. 2014. Book review of Zhu Rongji Meets the Press, by Zhu Rongji. Political Studies Review... more

Book Review of Is China Buying the World?

Book Review of The Religious Question in Modern China

Book Review of Nation and Religion: Perspectives on Europe and Asia.

Nation and Religion: Perspectives on Europe and Asia. Edited by Peter van der Veer and Hartmut Le... more

Unlikely Friends of the Authoritarian and Atheist Ruler: Religious Groups and Collective Contention in Rural China

This article examines the roles played by rural religious groups in China's local contentious pol... more This article examines the roles played by rural religious groups in China's local contentious politics. More specifically, it aims to explore whether religious groups stimulate or reduce collective contention when the ruler is both authoritarian and atheist. Drawing on national survey data and comparative case studies, this article finds that collective contention is less likely to occur in villages with religious groups that simultaneously overlap with secular social organizations and local authorities, and are hence more likely to serve as credible communication channels between local states and discontented citizens. This finding highlights two important issues that are often side-lined, if not outright neglected, in the existing literature. First, the relationship between religious groups and collective contention is diverse rather than uniform. Second, this relationship is shaped not only by religious groups but also by other important players in the local political arena.

Intermediate Associations, Grassroots Elites and Collective Petitioning in Rural China

Rural China has witnessed both a massive emergence of intermediate associations and a rapid incre... more Rural China has witnessed both a massive emergence of intermediate associations and a rapid increase in collective petitioning during the past few decades. While each of these two significant socio-political phenomena has attracted considerable academic attentions, the relationship between them has yet to be carefully addressed. To narrow this gap, this chapter discusses the relationship between intermediate associations and collective petitioning in contemporary rural China, with special attention paid to the important roles that grassroots elites play in the interactions between rural intermediate associations and the local states. The chapter starts from defining key concepts such as ‘intermediate association’ and ‘collective petitioning’, and then briefly reviews some relevant theories in this field. Next, thanks to the data collected through an original survey which covers information of intermediate associations in 116 randomly selected villages in 6 Chinese provinces, the authors are able to introduce some general patterns regarding intermediate associations and collective petitioning in contemporary rural China. Given that apparently no mainstream theories could be directly applied to explain the survey results, a new framework is developed and examined through comparative case studies based on in-depth interviews toward grassroots elites in four representative villages. The empirical evident suggests that only those intermediate associations which are both embedded (i.e. some association members are grassroots elites) and self-governed (i.e. the members can independently make decisions regarding their association) can decrease the frequency of collective petitioning in Chinese villages, thanks to their capability to develop ‘trust among members’ into the ‘trust in cadres’ and thanks to the ‘bridging effects’ associated with grassroots elites. This chapter also suggests that working with intermediate associations may actually make the work of grassroots elites easier, because such a strategy allows them to make use of social authorities to cease destructive rumours and thus to make collective petitioning less likely to happen.

A Solo, a Duet or an Ensemble? Analysing the Recent Development of Religious Communities in Contemporary Rural China

ECRAN: Europe China Research and Advice Network, Mar 8, 2012

This paper describes the development of religious communities in rural China today. It explains h... more This paper describes the development of religious communities in rural China today. It explains how China’s burgeoning religious communities have acted as a powerful emerging social force in its domestic political arena, especially at the grassroots level. While Beijing now acknowledges that its anti-religious Communist policies of 1957 to 78 were wrong, its laws and regulations for implementing religious freedom have remained “frustratingly insufficient and ambiguous” over the past three decades. Drawing upon this, this paper offers a new framework to explain why religious communities in China have developed better in some places than others.

英国顶尖智库的特点及其扩散涉华观点的途径(The Main Characteristics of Top British Think Tanks and Their Means of Spreading China-related Opinions)

by Yu Tao and Yan Ma

British think tanks play significant roles in opinion-shaping and policy-making both within and b... more British think tanks play significant roles in opinion-shaping and policy-making both within and beyond Europe by taking advantage of the UK’s educational and cultural resources and the country’s international influence. Through analysing how the leading British think tanks establish themselves and promote their China-related ideas and opinions, this paper argues that these think thanks are able to effectively shape public opinions and policy processes through close and active engagements with politicians, academics, and the media. In addition, these think thanks also significantly benefit from the cultural legacies of the British Empire, the fact that English is widely adopted as a professional working language, and London’s unique position as a global city.

上帝、苦难与自由意志 (The God, Sufferings, and the Free Will)

本文评介了温特森(Jeanette Winterson)的自传《寻常便好，何必快乐(Why be happy when you could be normal)?》及其第一步小说《橘子不是唯一的... more 本文评介了温特森(Jeanette Winterson)的自传《寻常便好，何必快乐(Why be happy when you could be normal)?》及其第一步小说《橘子不是唯一的水果(Oranges are not the only fruit)》。文章视图说明，世界是强大而险恶的，个体是渺小而脆弱的。然而，世界上总有像温特森那样的个体，他们明知自身渺小却不向强大的外力妥协，他们明知自己脆弱却依然在险恶的环境中坚持信念，他们不仅改变了自己的命运，也改变了自己生活的这个世界。事实上，正是因为有了他们和他们的自由意志，这个世界才在浑噩、堕落、投机与虚华之间，有了变得更好的可能。

故事背后有故事 (Narratives underlying the Stories)

本文评介了沈艾娣(Henrietta Harrison)于2013年出版的著作《传教士之诅与一个中国天主教村庄的其他故事(The Missionary's Curse and Other Tal... more 本文评介了沈艾娣(Henrietta Harrison)于2013年出版的著作《传教士之诅与一个中国天主教村庄的其他故事(The Missionary's Curse and Other Tales from a Chinese Catholic Village)》。笔者认为，沈艾娣的高明之处，在于她选择了一个大有深度的小切口。她以一个村庄的历史和“故事”作为学术求索的出发点，却没有让这个村庄和这些故事限制住自己的视野和思绪。所以，本书虽然内容异常丰富，线索却十分清晰；叙事虽然跨越了三百年，但又取舍得当、详略分明。可见，微观史要想写得荡气回肠，作者得首先做到胸中有丘壑。

群众社团与农村基层冲突治理 (Intermediate Organisations and Grassroot Conflicts Resolution in Rural China)

当今中国农村的群众社团与基层冲突关系密切，治理基层冲突应当重视发挥群众社团的作用。通过案例研究及比较发现，兼具自主性和嵌入性的群众社团更能同时获得群众和基层干部认可，从而能够更好地消解制度外冲突... more 当今中国农村的群众社团与基层冲突关系密切，治理基层冲突应当重视发挥群众社团的作用。通过案例研究及比较发现，兼具自主性和嵌入性的群众社团更能同时获得群众和基层干部认可，从而能够更好地消解制度外冲突，保证基层矛盾在制度框架内得以解决。通过统计分析发现，兼具自主性和嵌入性的群众社团不仅能够消解集体上访等制度外的群体冲突，还能消解抗缴税费等制度外的个体冲突。

中国农村社团的发育、纠纷调解与群体性上访 (Farmers' Associations, Contention Mediation and Collective Petitions in Rural China)

在总结中国农村社团和群体性抗争活动既有研究的基础上，本文通过随机抽样数据的定量分析，描述了民间社团在中国农村的发育情况，重点讨论了具备两个性质的“农村半独立社团”。第一,社团的实际负责人不是政府... more 在总结中国农村社团和群体性抗争活动既有研究的基础上，本文通过随机抽样数据的定量分析，描述了民间社团在中国农村的发育情况，重点讨论了具备两个性质的“农村半独立社团”。第一,社团的实际负责人不是政府官员或村干部；第二,社团的重大决策不需经由基层政府或村干部批准。实证研究发现，当这些“半独立的社团”具备了社会纠纷调解职能时，就可以有效地削减村庄的大规模群体性上访，而由官方控制的负责治保或民调类的社团却无法达到同样的效果。文章结合实地调查的经验，对该实证发现的现实机理及其政策含义进行了多方面探讨。

‘Enemies of the State’ or ‘Friends of the Harmonious Society’? Religious Groups, Varieties of Social Capital, and Collective Contention in Contemporary Rural China

Please refer to the uploaded pages.

Book Review of East Asian Societies

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book Review of East Asian Societies by W. Lawrence Neuman. Political Studies Revie... more

Book Review of Political Sociology in a Global Era

Tao, Yu. 2015. Political Sociology in a Global Era: An Introduction to the State and Society by B... more

Book Review of Contestation and Adaptation

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book review of Contestation and Adaptation: The Politics of National Identity in C... more

Book Review of China Across the Divide

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book review of China Across the Divide: The Domestic and Global in Politics and So... more

Book Review of A Middle Class Without Democracy

Tao, Yu. 2015. Book review of A Middle Class Without Democracy: Economic Growth and the Prospects... more

Book Review of Understanding Chinese Politics

Tao, Yu. 2014. Book review of Understanding Chinese Politics: An Introduction to Government in th... more

Book Review of Ruling, Resources and Religion in China

Tao, Yu. 2014. Book review of Ruling, Resources and Religion in China: Managing the Multiethinic ... more

Book Review of Zhu Rongji Meets the Press

Tao, Yu. 2014. Book review of Zhu Rongji Meets the Press, by Zhu Rongji. Political Studies Review... more

Book Review of Is China Buying the World?

Book Review of The Religious Question in Modern China

Book Review of Nation and Religion: Perspectives on Europe and Asia.

Nation and Religion: Perspectives on Europe and Asia. Edited by Peter van der Veer and Hartmut Le... more

Book Review of Making Religion, Making the State: The Politics of Religion in Modern China

Yoshiko Ashiwa and David L. Wank, eds., Making Religion, Making the State: The Politics of Religi... more

Religious Diversity with Chinese Characteristics? Meanings and Implications of the Term ‘Religious Diversity’ in Contemporary Chinese Dissertations

Religious Diversity in Asia, 2019

Australia (UWA), where he teaches the politics, society and language of contemporary China and co... more Australia (UWA), where he teaches the politics, society and language of contemporary China and coordinates the Chinese Studies major. Trained as a political sociologist in the Universities of Peking, Cambridge, and Oxford, Tao focuses his research primarily on the interactions between religious groups, civic organisations and local state agencies in contemporary China and overseas Chinese communities.

A Solo, a Duet or an Ensemble? Analysing the Recent Development of Religious Communities in Contemporary Rural China

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and can in no way b... more

Peter Nolan, Is China Buying the World?

China Perspectives, 2013

2013 nian Zhongguo shehui xingshi fenxi yu yuce (Analyses and projections for Chinese society in ... more

Religious Affiliations of the Chinese Community in Australia: Findings from 2016 Census Data

Religions, 2018

Through a systematic investigation-the first attempt of this kind-into the recently released 2016... more Through a systematic investigation-the first attempt of this kind-into the recently released 2016 Australian census data, this article presents a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the religious identity of the Chinese Community in contemporary Australia. Based on the empirical information derived from the census, this article details and interrogates the apparent high level of secularity among the Chinese community in Australia. It also demonstrates that, whilst Christianity is the most popular religion within the Chinese community, the proportion of people who claim to be Christian is significantly lower in the Chinese community as compared to Australia's general population. Furthermore, the proportion of believers in Buddhism, Ancestor Veneration, Confucianism, and Taoism within the Chinese community is significantly higher than the same proportion found within Australia's general population. It is also shown that even when using different definitions to demarcate the Chinese community, those being self-reported ancestry, languages spoken at home, or the birthplaces of parents, the religious profile of the community remains relatively stable. However, a further breakdown into ancestral, geographical, and linguistic groups reveals some noteworthy differences.

Unlikely Friends of the Authoritarian and Atheist Ruler: Religious Groups and Collective Contention in Rural China

Politics and Religion, 2015

This article examines the roles played by rural religious groups in China's local contentious... more This article examines the roles played by rural religious groups in China's local contentious politics. More specifically, it aims to explore whether religious groups stimulate or reduce collective contention when the ruler is both authoritarian and atheist. Drawing on national survey data and comparative case studies, this article finds that collective contention is less likely to occur in villages with religious groups that simultaneously overlap with secular social organizations and local authorities, and are hence more likely to serve as credible communication channels between local states and discontented citizens. This finding highlights two important issues that are often side-lined, if not outright neglected, in the existing literature. First, the relationship between religious groups and collective contention is diverse rather than uniform. Second, this relationship is shaped not only by religious groups but also by other important players in the local political arena.

The Historical Foundations of Religious Restrictions in Contemporary China

Religions, 2017

The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) abolished its total ban on religious activities in 1982.... more The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) abolished its total ban on religious activities in 1982. However, the distrust that the CCP feels for religions remains obvious today, and the religious restrictions in contemporary China remain tight. Conventional wisdom tells us that the official atheist ideology of Marxism-Leninism is the main reason behind the CCP's distrust for, and restriction of, religion. However, taking a historical institutionalist perspective, this paper argues that the religious restrictions in contemporary China are in fact rooted in the fierce political struggles of the country's two major revolutions in the first half of the twentieth century. Without the support of religious groups, the Nationalist Republicans would have found it difficult to survive and succeed in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty during the Chinese Republican Revolution in the first decade of the twentieth century. Likewise, without cooperating with a wide range of religious groups, the CCP would have struggled to defeat the Nationalist regime and the Japanese invaders in the Chinese Communist Revolution between 1920s and 1940s. Thanks to the collaborations and struggles with various religious groups during the two revolutions which lead to its eventual ascent to power, the CCP thoroughly understands the organisational strength and mobilising capability embedded within religious groups. The tight restrictions on religious affairs in contemporary China is therefore likely to stem from the CCP's worry that prospective competitors could mobilise religious groups to challenge its rule through launching, supporting, or sponsoring collective actions.

Agitators, Tranquilizers, or Something Else: Do Religious Groups Increase or Decrease Contentious Collective Action?

Religions, 2018

This article critically assesses existing scholarship on the roles that religious groups play in ... more This article critically assesses existing scholarship on the roles that religious groups play in collective contention. Researchers disagree on three main issues: (a) whether religious doctrines and values make religious groups more or less likely to launch collective contention; (b) whether religious groups reflect and reinforce politically relevant schisms and bring about regime change; and (c) whether the organizational structure of religious groups facilitates or prevents contentious collective action. This article urges researchers in the field (a) to extend their empirical enquiries into polytheistic, pantheistic, and non-theistic religions; (b) to conduct more cross-national and comparative studies; and (c) to think beyond the traditional framework of church-state relations. Calling for challenges to a one-dimensional understanding on the relationship between religious groups and collective contention, this article suggests that a better understanding of this relationship can be achieved by (a) explicitly defining the boundary conditions within which a theory works and (b) embracing a relational perspective that focuses not on religious groups per se but on their interactions with other social and political players.

The State and ‘Religious Diversity’ in Chinese Dissertations

Religions, 2018

Religious diversity in China has attracted considerable scholarly attention in both Anglophone an... more Religious diversity in China has attracted considerable scholarly attention in both Anglophone and Sino-phone academia. Based on the quantitative and qualitative evidence in a representative sample of doctoral and master’s dissertations successfully defended in reputable Chinese academic institutions, this article identifies two characteristics associated with the usage of ‘religious diversity’ in contemporary Chinese scholarship. Firstly, ‘religious diversity’ is prominently applied to depict inter-religious rather than intra-religious relations. Secondly, ‘religious diversity’ is often discussed along with ethnic diversity. These patterns confirm, and further illustrate, a notable theme in the China-focused English scholarly works on religious diversity, namely, that the Chinese state plays a predominant role in the making and shaping of the country’s religious diversity. Moreover, the meaning, implication, and usage of the very concept of ‘religious diversity’ in contemporary Chi...

Peter Nolan, Is China Buying the World?. Cambridge, UK, Polity Press, 2012, 147 pp

China Perspectives, Sep 1, 2013

2013 nian Zhongguo shehui xingshi fenxi yu yuce (Analyses and projections for Chinese society in ... more

Religion-Related Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Practices and Initiatives of the Contemporary Chinese State

Religions

This paper reveals the contemporary Chinese state’s active role in shaping the country’s religion... more This paper reveals the contemporary Chinese state’s active role in shaping the country’s religion-related intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding, through a systematic review of China’s official inventories of national representative ICH projects and extensive investigations of relevant local practices and initiatives. Although China is ruled by a political party officially embracing an atheist ideology, various elements of the contemporary Chinese state have been proactively involved in safeguarding religion-related ICH. The Chinese state’s involvement in de facto religion-related ICH safeguarding predates its adoption of explicit ICH safeguarding narratives. Still, the Chinese state’s practices and initiatives in safeguarding religion-related ICH flourished after ratifying the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2004. Since then, China’s central government has established a nationwide framework to recognise representative ICH items...