Introduction : overlooked religions in Hong Kong
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Asian Anthropology
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Volume
14
Issue
1
First Page
3
Last Page
7
Publisher
Chinese University Press
Keywords
Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, minorities, multiculturalism, religious diversity
Abstract
Much of what we know about religion in Hong Kong is connected to what may be considered historically central religious traditions that are entwined with an elite institutional hierarchy in the territory, namely Christianity and Buddhism. As a result, the rich mosaic of Hong Kong's religious life and history remains a widely overlooked landscape. In response to Homi Bhabha's influential call to locate culture in the “margins and boundaries of assumed authenticities” and following up on Dru Gladney's work, which explored a representation of China through its minority communities, this special issue of Asian Anthropology strives to present an account of Hong Kong through the overlooked and often dismissed relevance of religions as they exist in minority, migrant, and marginalized forms. This decentering engages with the people who are involved in such religions and religious practices, locally born ethnic minorities, foreign domestic workers, and devotees of practices sometimes viewed as feudal and out of step with the modern urbanity of the world city. What is the status of these religions? How do they affect the lives of people? And in turn how does the rhythm of Hong Kong life come to influence religious groups and practitioners? Ultimately, it is how religion is imagined in Hong Kong society that determines the quality of interaction.
DOI
10.1080/1683478X.2015.1025594
Print ISSN
1683478X
E-ISSN
21684227
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2015 The Department of Anthropology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Formichi, C., & O'Connor, P. (2015). Introduction: Overlooked religions in Hong Kong. Asian Anthropology, 14(1), 3-7. doi: 10.1080/1683478X.2015.1025594