Books by Vincent Goossaert

This book questions whether temples and Daoism are two independent aspects of modern Chinese religion, or if they are indissolubly linked.

The author focuses on ordinary religious professionals, most of whom remained obscure temple employees, showing that these Taoists were neither the socially despised illiterates dismissed in so many studies, nor otherworldly ascetics, but active participants in the religious economy of the city.

Highlights parallels and contrasts between historical events, political regimes, and cultural movements to explore how religion has challenged and responded to secular Chinese modernity from 1898 onwards. This book integrates historical, anthropological, and sociological perspectives in a comprehensive overview of China's religious history.