This series provides succinct and balanced overviews of the religions of the world. Written in an accessible and informative style, and assuming little or no prior knowledge on the part of the reader, each book gives a basic introduction to the faith--its history, beliefs, and practices--and emphasizes modern developments and the role and impact of the religion in today's world.

Chinese Religious Traditions provides a concise introduction to the history of religion in China and its ramifications in China today. Focusing on the four major religious traditions of Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and popular religion, this book covers the religious and ethical ideas as well as the practices within each tradition. The book traces themes that are common to Chinese society from earliest times to the present day. It also highlights the ways in which each tradition has responded to and influenced political and cultural change.

• Equal emphasis on four religious traditions—Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and popular religion—examines each of them in each historical period, as well as the historical interrelationships among them.

• Coverage of the religious dimensions of the Chinese philosophical traditions—Includes the social and ritual dimensions typically studied by anthropologists.

  • Gives students a well-rounded view of Chinese religions not usually found in other texts. Ex.___

• Coverage of both mainland China and Taiwan.

Joseph A. Adler is Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio.

Ninian Smart was J. F. Rowny Professor of Comparative Religions at the University of California, Santa Barbara.