Part I: Background and Setting 1. Conceptual Framework 2. The field site – the Jinhua region – the geographic, historical and political economic background 3. Religion in Jinhua and Perspectives for Understanding it 4. Temple Fairs in Chinese History and Chinese Folklore Studies Part II: Unraveling the strands of the total social phenomenon 5. Secular Fairs - The Commercial/Economic dimension 6. The Popular cultural dimension 7. More Popular Culture - Wuju (Jinhua opera) 8. The Religious Dimension - the temple fair of Hugong Dadi 9. The Political Dimension – Macro and Micro 10. Fotang Town: the Resacralization of a Commercial Fair 11. Conclusions
Biography
Gene Cooper is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Southern California, USA.
"Gene Cooper weaves together historical and ethnographic methodologies in a spirited account of the genealogies and contemporary practices of a variety of forms of performance at these local gatherings... The book also features a wonderfully detailed account of the arts of popular performance at the fairs, from small-cymbal narrative (xiaoluo shuo) to opera (wuju) competitions, and looks closely at the religious dimension of secular temple gatherings. Cooper’s lively voice infuses every page of the book and each moment of the interview." - Carla Nappi, New Books Network, January 2013.
"This book is unique insofar as it makes regional specific sources in modern temple fairs studies accessible, which can be used for regional comparison and general studies. Furthermore, it provides a good introduction to the rural economy, popular culture, and religion of the Jinhua region for students and scholars who are interested in Southeastern China." - Xiaobing Wang-Riese, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Journal of Chinese Religions
