Hare Krishna in China

Taking into account sociological, anthropological and historical considerations, this novel volume offers a history and ethnography of Hare Krishnas in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), challenging assumptions about both devotees themselves, and the institution to which they belong: ISKCON.

Taking into account sociological, anthropological, and historical considerations, this novel volume offers a history and ethnography of Hare Krishnas in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), challenging assumptions about both devotees themselves and the institution to which they belong: the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Drawing on a rich compendium of English- and Chinese-language sources, including archived recordings and interviews carried out through multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, chapters explore how Chinese Hare Krishnas maintain their religious practice despite social opposition and describe the role of collective emotions and affective synchronization in strengthening the faith of devotees. The book identifies strategies ISKCON members use to position their tradition and proselytize within China, contextualizing these methods among a broader consideration of how practitioners of unofficial religions in the country conduct outreach differently from those belonging to state-sanctioned ones. The book contributes to a more comprehensive picture of religion in the PRC, broadening the traditional body of knowledge based primarily on ethnographic data collected before the Xi Era from the five religions officially recognized by the Chinese state. The book will be of value to scholars and researchers in the fields of religious studies, East Asian studies, and anthropology.