9780824834913 - Gods, Ghosts, and Gangsters: Ritual Violence, Martial Arts, and Masculinity on the Margins of Chinese Society by Boretz, Avron (18 results)

Condition: Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.

paperback. Condition: New. Illustrated. Ships in a BOX from Central Missouri! UPS shipping for most packages, (Priority Mail for AK/HI/APO/PO Boxes).

Condition: New.

Paperback. Condition: New. Demon warrior puppets, sword-wielding Taoist priests, spirit mediums lacerating their bodies with spikes and blades?these are among the most dramatic images in Chinese religion. Usually linked to the propitiation of plague gods and the worship of popular military deities, such ritual practices have an obvious but previously unexamined kinship with the traditional Chinese martial arts.The long and durable history of martial arts iconography and ritual in Chinese religion suggests something far deeper than mere historical coincidence. Avron Boretz argues that martial arts gestures and movements are so deeply embedded in the ritual repertoire in part because they iconify masculine qualities of violence, aggressivity, and physical prowess, the implicit core of Chinese patriliny and patriarchy. At the same time, for actors and audience alike, martial arts gestures evoke the mythos of the jianghu, a shadowy, often violent realm of vagabonds, outlaws, and masters of martial and magic arts. Through the direct bodily practice of martial arts movement and creative rendering of jianghu narratives, martial ritual practitioners are able to identify and represent themselves, however briefly and incompletely, as men of prowess, a reward otherwise denied those confined to the lower limits of this deeply patriarchal society.Based on fieldwork in China and Taiwan spanning nearly two decades, Gods, Ghosts, and Gangsters offers a thorough and original account of violent ritual and ritual violence in Chinese religion and society. Close-up, sensitive portrayals and the voices of ritual actors themselves?mostly working-class men, many of them members of sworn brotherhoods and gangs?convincingly link martial ritual practice to the lives and desires of men on the margins of Chinese society. This work is a significant contribution to the study of Chinese ritual and religion, the history and sociology of Chinese underworld, the history and anthropology of the martial arts, and the anthropology of masculinity. …

Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition.

PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000.

Condition: new.

Condition: New. pp. 288 16 Illus., 2 Maps.

Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 273 pages. 9.25x6.25x0.75 inches. In Stock.

Condition: New. Num Pages: 280 pages, 16 illustrations, 2 maps. BIC Classification: 1FPC; JHMC. Category: (G) General (US: Trade); (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 229 x 155 x 19. Weight in Grams: 452. . 2010. Paperback. . . . .

Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days.

Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has soft covers. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,550grams, ISBN:9780824834913.

Condition: New. Num Pages: 280 pages, 16 illustrations, 2 maps. BIC Classification: 1FPC; JHMC. Category: (G) General (US: Trade); (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 229 x 155 x 19. Weight in Grams: 452. . 2010. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Condition: New. pp. 288, 2 Maps, Index.

Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition.

Condition: New.

Condition: New. Offers a thorough and original account of violent ritual and ritual violence in Chinese religion and society. Close-up, sensitive portrayals and the voices of ritual actors themselves-mostly working-class men, many of them members of sworn brotherhoods and .

Paperback. Condition: New. Demon warrior puppets, sword-wielding Taoist priests, spirit mediums lacerating their bodies with spikes and blades?these are among the most dramatic images in Chinese religion. Usually linked to the propitiation of plague gods and the worship of popular military deities, such ritual practices have an obvious but previously unexamined kinship with the traditional Chinese martial arts.The long and durable history of martial arts iconography and ritual in Chinese religion suggests something far deeper than mere historical coincidence. Avron Boretz argues that martial arts gestures and movements are so deeply embedded in the ritual repertoire in part because they iconify masculine qualities of violence, aggressivity, and physical prowess, the implicit core of Chinese patriliny and patriarchy. At the same time, for actors and audience alike, martial arts gestures evoke the mythos of the jianghu, a shadowy, often violent realm of vagabonds, outlaws, and masters of martial and magic arts. Through the direct bodily practice of martial arts movement and creative rendering of jianghu narratives, martial ritual practitioners are able to identify and represent themselves, however briefly and incompletely, as men of prowess, a reward otherwise denied those confined to the lower limits of this deeply patriarchal society.Based on fieldwork in China and Taiwan spanning nearly two decades, Gods, Ghosts, and Gangsters offers a thorough and original account of violent ritual and ritual violence in Chinese religion and society. Close-up, sensitive portrayals and the voices of ritual actors themselves?mostly working-class men, many of them members of sworn brotherhoods and gangs?convincingly link martial ritual practice to the lives and desires of men on the margins of Chinese society. This work is a significant contribution to the study of Chinese ritual and religion, the history and sociology of Chinese underworld, the history and anthropology of the martial arts, and the anthropology of masculinity. …