The Spiritual Land Rush: Merit and Morality in New Chinese Buddhist Temple Construction

@article{Fisher2008TheSL,
  title={The Spiritual Land Rush: Merit and Morality in New Chinese Buddhist Temple Construction},
  author={Gareth Fisher},
  journal={The Journal of Asian Studies},
  year={2008},
  volume={67},
  pages={143 - 170}
}
  • Gareth Fisher
  • Published 1 February 2008
  • Sociology
  • The Journal of Asian Studies
This article explores factors contributing to a boom in Buddhist temple construction in contemporary mainland China. In contrast to recent studies focusing on struggles between religious believers and the state over the revival of local temples and churches, this article examines the culture of merit making and morality building that leads clergy and lay practitioners to form translocal networks with the aim of constructing temples in rural areas where they have few or any cultural ties. The… 
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