Chinese traditional sects in modern society

: a case study of Yiguan Dao

Abstract

This study extends the religious economy model to analyzing the operation of Yiguan Dao, a modern successor of Chinese traditional sects. At the individual level, this thesis proposes that the reasons for people’s conversion to Yiguan Dao are a complex of individual rationality, missionary efforts and state suppression. This study also finds that religious experiences, which are deeply personal phenomena, are also influenced by competition in the religious markets. At the group level, this research reveals that Yiguan Dao tried its best to fight against schismatic tendencies, update its theological explanations, and reform its organizational structure to make the sect more theology-centered and more organizationally stabilized, after the sect gained its legal status in 1987. On the macro level, this research analyzes the Chinese religious markets in which Yiguan Dao is located, arguing that Chinese sects bridge, and at the same time are shaped by, the popular religion and the three religions, namely Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Thus, this in-depth study of Yiguan Dao illuminates important aspects of Chinese sects in the modern society.

Date of Award	15 Feb 2005
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Graeme LANG (Supervisor)