In recent years, the study of modern Chinese religions has developed into a highly innovative yet challenging field. One of the main reasons for this involves an ongoing (and largely unresolved) debate regarding what methods and theories are appropriate for analyzing the wide range of beliefs and practices we encounter. This series of three volumes is based on the conviction that, in this critical period of research on modern Chinese religions, it is time for scholars to review the development of our field, reconsider its present state of theories and analytical models, and open a new chapter in the understanding of methodologies we employ. Our research is grounded on the need to re-evaluate concepts and practices that inform both the religious sphere and contemporary scholarship, including endogenous Chinese concepts and exogenous ideas from the West and Japan that have been foundational in shaping our knowledge of the Chinese religious landscape. In this third volume of our series, we examine a variety of key concepts through their praxis in modern Chinese lived religions.

近年來，有越來越多的學者開始思考宗教在近代中國史的重要性，不只關注宗教傳統如何適應國家政策，同時也探討宗教在構成近代華人社會與文化成長所扮演的角色。舉凡文學、文化、藝術、政治等領域，目前學界已經有可觀的成果，揭示這一時期對近年來，有越來越多的學者開始思考宗教在近代中國史的重要性，不只關注宗教傳統如何適應國家政策，同時也探討宗教在構成近代華人社會與文化成長所扮演的角色。舉凡文學、文化、藝術、政治等領域，目前學界已經有可觀的成果，揭示這一時期對於中國現代性的形塑力量，宗教方面也正在急起直追。在此一研究趨勢中，編者集結了中央研究院近代史研究所同仁及其合作伙伴的著作，嘗試以宗教作為重探中國近代史的關鍵點，分別探討三方面的問題：地方上民間信仰結構的轉型、宗教知識的創新、菁英份子宗教信仰的新形態。於中國現代性的形塑力量，宗教方面也正在急起直追。在此一研究趨勢中，編者集結了中央研究院近代史研究所同仁及其合作伙伴的著作，嘗試以宗教作為重探中國近代史的關鍵點，分別探討三方面的問題：地方上民間信仰結構的轉型、宗教知識的創新、菁英份子宗教信仰的新形態。