Spatialising the interface between spirituality and secular modernity : Mahayana Buddhism as entrepreneurial religion in urban China

Abstract

This thesis intricately delves into the entrepreneurial trajectories of Han Buddhism (Chinese Mahayana Buddhism) within urban China, viewed through the lens of geography. It significantly contributes to the theorisation of the dynamic process between religion/spirituality and the multifaceted conditions of secular modernity. While religious renaissance in post-reform China has been the theme of a growing corpus of scholarships, the dearth of geographical perspectives is evident when the foci of analyses are traditional belief systems such as Buddhism. Buddhism has emerged as one of the backbones of the religious renaissance in post-reform China (1979-). In recent decades, Han Buddhism has demonstrated clear inclinations towards this-worldly engagements and has accommodated adherents’ demands for spiritual pursuit in a volatile era of rapid socio-economic transition. Meanwhile, the visibility of religious landscapes in urban China has significantly increased. In these processes, there is the mutual constitution of religiosity and secular modernity, and religion needs to reinvent and reform itself – becoming entrepreneurial – to maintain its legitimacy in modern society.

This thesis critically examines the intricate interplay between religiosity/spirituality and the diverse conditions of secular modernity through the lens of geographies of religion. Firstly, it posits that the multifaceted post-secular landscapes of religious-urban configurations are manifesting the city as a breeding ground for religious innovation and a laboratory for religious organisations to materialise their urban aspiration and social imaginaries. By illuminating these dynamics, the thesis sheds light on the evolving role of religion in shaping urban development and the enabling conditions within the urban environment that facilitate the change of religious subjectivity. Secondly, the thesis advances a re-theorisation of the symbiotic relationship and co-production between religion and science & technology. This exploration is informed by engaging with the burgeoning scholarship in science and technology studies (STS) and conducting an empirical study of Longquan Monastery in Beijing. The monastery’s advocacy for the mutually enriching connections between Buddhism and modern science and technology serves as a compelling case study to challenge rigid boundaries between religion and science & technology. It unravels the crossover learning between the secular and the sacred fields, through which knowledge and new theological discourses circulate, highlighting the fluid and porous interface of religiosity and secularity. Furthermore, the thesis delves into the lifestyle community surrounding Lingyin Monastery and other famous Buddhist temples, focusing on how spirituality/religion has become a dimension of urban regeneration and capital accumulation. It uncovers how religious practices contribute to the production of new urban spaces and the creation of meaningful places. Moreover, it also initiates a dialogue between the geographies of religion and the enterprise of platform urbanism, investigating the implications of the emergence of “wanghong temples” in Hangzhou for urban community revitalisation.

In summary, this thesis delves into the evolving dynamics between entrepreneurial Mahayana Buddhism and the varied conditions of secular modernity amidst the market transition in post-reform China. It contributes to the understanding of entrepreneurial religion and its interactions with social, economic, and cultural contexts by providing a negotiated epistemological space for reconciling seemingly divergent concepts and ontologies.