Ethnography of Religious Beliefs and Social Orders in Ethnic Areas

This book presents a fascinating study of the religion of minority groups living in rural areas in Yunnan province in the early twenty-first century and how they use religious rituals to show their own nationality and spiritual culture. By exploring these minority groups, e.g., the Dai, Bulang, and De’ang, the book makes a major contribution to our understanding of the relationship between religion and social functions and of the ways in which globalization and modernity are experienced at the most personal level. It provides valuable insights into how minority people negotiate sacred /secular demands and requirements, how they experience a sense of satisfaction and comfort in Buddhist temples, and how that experience shapes their sense of identity, worldview, values, and relations with others.

In closing, the book gives a voice to the experiences of Buddhists, who are one of the most important—and yet least visible—signs of religion freedom in China’s reform processes. It offers a unique guide for all readers, who are interesting in oriental studies, and an ideal reference book for Anthropology and Buddhism courses at colleges and universities.