Supernatural politics : Mao Zedong and the drive to eliminate religion in China, 1949-79 / S.A. Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, S. A. (Stephen Anthony), 1952- Author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in the history of the People's Republic of China.

Cambridge studies in the history of the People's Republic of China

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and state--China--History--20th century.

Religion and state.

Communism and religion--China--History--20th century.

Communism and religion.

Folk religion--China.

Folk religion.

China--Politics and government--1949-1976.

China.

China--Religious life and customs.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vii, 385 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2026.

Summary:

In this landmark contribution to the study of modern China, Steve Smith examines the paradox of 'supernatural politics'. He shows that we cannot understand the meaning of the Communist revolution to the Han Chinese without exploring their belief in gods, ghosts and ancestors. China was a religious society when the Communist Party took power in 1949, and it sought to erode the influence of the minority religions of Buddhism, Daoism, Catholicism and Protestantism. However, it was the folk religion of the great majority that seemed to symbolize China's backwardness. Smith explores the Party's efforts to eliminate belief in supernatural entities and cosmic forces through propaganda campaigns and popularizing science. Yet he also shows how the Party engaged in 'supernatural politics' to expand its support, utilizing imagery, metaphors and values that resonated with folk religion and Confucianism. Folk religion is thus essential to understanding the transformative experience of revolution.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 18 May 2026).

ISBN:

1-009-60097-4

9781009601009

9781009601016