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Between Spiritual Economy and Religious Commodification: Negotiating Temple Autonomy in Contemporary China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2020

Kuei-min Chang
Kuei-min Chang*
Affiliation:
Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Email: changkueimin@gate.sinica.edu.tw.
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Abstract

This research investigates the contentious use of temple assets amid widespread local state-led religious commodification in contemporary China. Based on a comparative analysis of 22 historic temples, this paper argues that given the choice, temple leaders strive for property-management autonomy, which they negotiate on two fronts. Externally, owing to the immobility of historic temple assets, temple leaders avoid antagonizing local state agents by demonstrating political conformity and the temple's economic contribution. Internally, they seek to build a donation-based merit economy to sustain the monastic institution. Since such autonomy must operate within the authoritarian state's regulatory framework, the restrained contestation of the religious leadership actually helps to strengthen state control over religion.

摘要

摘要

本研究以当代中国地方政府主导下的宗教商品化为背景，调查寺庙财产使用的政教争端。借由对 22 个著名历史寺庙的比较研究，本文主张在有选择的情况下，寺庙领导两面协商庙产管理的自主性：面对地方政府及其代理人，由于庙产的不可移动性，寺庙领导选择展现政治顺服和强调寺庙的经济贡献；面对信众，他们力求建立以宗教捐献为主的功德经济来维持寺庙的存续。但由于此自主性是建立在威权统治的政经架构上，寺庙领导克制的抗争模式反而强化了国家对其宗教的控制。

Keywords

religious commodificationtemple revivalpolitical economy of religionspiritual economyreligious autonomyreligious propertyChina宗教商品化寺庙复兴宗教政治经济学信仰经济宗教自主宗教财产中国
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 242 , June 2020 , pp. 440 - 459
Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London 2020

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