Chinese Religions

by Julia Ching

Chinese Religions

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Philosophy, History, China, Textbooks

250 pages, Paperback

Published August 30, 1993

Reviews

[Earl Grey Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit surprising now that I am out of college, I start to actually read college textbooks (sorry if any of my professors are reading this).

Even though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, there was a prodigious amount of information within the pages. What I was really hoping to learn about was the details and particulars of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. While there was a nice overview of these three religions/philosophy, most of the information pertained to how they developed overtime.

Coming from a western background it was a bit hard to follow the information about the three previously mentioned religions due to my lack of familiarity with them. I did have a basic understanding so it wasn't horrifically overwhelming. The sections about Christianity, Judaism and Islam in China was quite a bit easier for me understand.

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ching's survey takes in the whole picture without bias. Where many writers focus on the formally organized or state-backed forms of religion, Ching includes respectful treatment of "popular religions," with their informal and frankly ecstatic or shamanistic qualities. She investigates traditions which have stayed close to their roots throughout Chinese history, some of which were made by and for women. Ching is also non-discriminating in her inclusion of "non-Chinese" religions. If they are practiced in China, they find a place in Ching's insightful overview.

[Darka Watters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very historical perspective.