1st Edition
Money God Temples in Taiwan Transcendence and Metaphysics in Chinese Religion
Part 1: Ethnography 1. Money Gods, Gifts, and Conundrums 2. Taiwan’s Most Popular Money Gods: History and Mythology 3. Fortune Money: The Beginnings 4. Fortune Money: Other Systems 5. Fortune Money and the Taoist Priest: Shiding Wulu Caishen Miao 6. Replenishing the Treasury, Bu Caiku: Another Form of Generating This-Life Wealth Part 2: Analyses 7. Intentionality, Numbers, and Trends 8. Societal Catalysts to Religious Change: Why Taiwan? 9. Reevaluating Derrida: What Do Money Gods, and Recipients Actually Get out of it?
Biography
Fabian Graham is an independent researcher and associate researcher in the ‘Religion and Globalization’ cluster, Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.
“With rich ethnographic narratives and theoretical analysis, Money God Temples in Taiwan, reveals a thorough and important research on the traditional yin/yang ontology, Chinese money god belief, and its modern variation in Taiwan. Highly recommended for students and scholars in religion, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies.”
Dr. Hsun CHANG, Director of the Institute of Ethnology (2024 – 2025), Academia Sinica, Taiwan
“Combining rich and often entertaining ethnography on Taiwanese 'money gods' and deep philosophical reflections on the nature of the 'true gift', this is the best introduction to the lively world of ritual innovation involving spiritually-charged 'financial instruments'.”
Professor Adam Yuet Chau, University of Cambridge, UK
“Fascinating and fun to read! A detailed and richly textured ethnography on the growing trend of gods who lend money in Taiwan. The book contributes to important debates in the anthropology and sociology of religion, including the gift economy, religious modernity, religious hybridity and transmutation, and the commodification of religion.”
Professor David Palmer, The University of Hong Kong.
