Book contents
- Supernatural Politics
- Cambridge Studies in the History of the People’s Republic of China
- Supernatural Politics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Author’s Note
- Maps
- Introduction
- 1Religion, Superstition, and Science
- 2The Religious Policy of the Chinese Communist Party
- 3Crushing the Redemptive Religious Societies
- 4Buddhists and Daoists under Fire
- 5Protestants and Catholics under Fire
- 6The Politics of Supernatural Rumour
- 7Local Officials Confront Folk Religion
- 8Propaganda against Religion and Superstition
- 9Anti-Superstition Campaigns, 1963–76
- 10Confucian Culture and the Chinese Communist Party
- 11Religion and Resistance
- 12The Supernatural in Maoist Political Culture
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 May 2026
Book contents
- Supernatural Politics
- Cambridge Studies in the History of the People’s Republic of China
- Supernatural Politics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Author’s Note
- Maps
- Introduction
- 1Religion, Superstition, and Science
- 2The Religious Policy of the Chinese Communist Party
- 3Crushing the Redemptive Religious Societies
- 4Buddhists and Daoists under Fire
- 5Protestants and Catholics under Fire
- 6The Politics of Supernatural Rumour
- 7Local Officials Confront Folk Religion
- 8Propaganda against Religion and Superstition
- 9Anti-Superstition Campaigns, 1963–76
- 10Confucian Culture and the Chinese Communist Party
- 11Religion and Resistance
- 12The Supernatural in Maoist Political Culture
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The introduction examines the CCP’s hope to break with a Soviet-style anti-religious policy. It examines policies towards the five religions that it recognized – Buddhism, Daoism, Protestantism, Catholicism (Islam is not discussed), as well as towards the folk religion of the vast majority of Chinese which the Party did not recognize as a religion and dismissed as feudal superstition. The CCP’s initial aim was to create a united front with patriotic religion leaders. However, this came under attack from those who increasingly saw religion as an obstacle to socialist advance. Through propaganda, campaigns and scientific education, the regime aimed to eradicate popular belief in supernatural agency. At the same time, it sought to bolster its legitimacy through what is called ‘supernatural politics’, i.e. the use of supernatural imagery and Confucian values to communicate its messages. This led to tensions within the ruling ideology. The introduction uses the steady move towards repression of religion to reflect on the unhappy relationship of Marxism to religion in general.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Supernatural PoliticsMao Zedong and the Drive to Eliminate Religion in China, 1949–79, pp. 1 - 20Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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