The Religion of the Chinese | J. J. M. Degroot | Paperback | Degroot's Religion of the Chinese | Jan Jakob Maria de Groot

J. J. M. Degroot; Jan Jakob Maria De Groot; Jan Degroot; Jan De Groot

ISBN 10: 935944863X / ISBN 13: 9789359448633

Published by Dev Books, 2025

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 26404974139

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Religion of the Chinese | J. J. M. Degroot | Paperback | Degroot's Religion of the Chinese | Jan Jakob Maria de Groot
• Publisher: Dev Books
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 935944863X
• ISBN 13: 9789359448633
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The Religion of the Chinese by J. J. M. De Groot is a detailed and scholarly examination of Chinese religious life, focusing on popular beliefs, rituals, and the interplay between Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Written in the late 19th century, De Groot's work goes beyond official doctrines to explore the lived religion of ordinary Chinese people, including ancestor worship, spirit possession, festivals, and superstitions. He treats religion as a social and psychological force, deeply embedded in daily life and community practices. While his analysis is thorough and informed by firsthand observation, it reflects the ethnocentric attitudes of the colonial period, occasionally portraying Chinese beliefs as primitive or overly ritualistic. Nevertheless, De Groot's work is notable for its anthropological approach and extensive documentation of folk practices often overlooked by other scholars of his time. It remains a valuable resource for understanding the complexity and richness of traditional Chinese religious expression.