In the Footsteps of the Tourists

Buddhist Revival at Museum/Temple Sites in Beijing

Bibliographic Data

ID18969748
AuthorsG Fisher (0000-0001-8762-4382, Max Planck Society, corresponding author)
Year2011
Volume58
Issue4
Pages511-524
Publication date2011-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Compass (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0037-7686 • E-ISSN: 1461-7404
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0037768611421130
OpenAlexW2113871843
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited8

Only a fraction of the Buddhist temples in Beijing that once housed monastics now function as places for religious activity. Some were demolished while others were converted to schools, government buildings, or residences. Several of these former temples have been restored; however, some have not been reopened as official religious sites but rather as fee-charging museums. Other temples have been restored to religious use but remain encircled within fee-charging “parks” that cater mostly to tourists. Lay Buddhists in Beijing are challenging this “museumification” of Buddhist temples by seeking exemption from admission fees and engaging in religious activities at museum/temple sites. Through a close examination of two of these sites, the White Dagoba Temple and the Eight Great Places Park, the author explores how Buddhist laypeople engaged in popular worship practices are slowly transforming museum/temples into social spaces informed by a vital, living Buddhist religion

Ancient history · Archaeology · Beijing · Buddhism · China · Clothing · Government (linguistics) · Political science · Social function · Social science · Sociology · Temple · Worship · Chinese history and philosophy · History · Law · Philosophy · Religious Tourism and Spaces · Vietnamese History and Culture Studies

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