The Souls of China

<p><b>'Masterfully opens up a little explored realm: how the quest for religion and spirituality drives hundreds of millions of Chinese' Pankaj Mishra</b><br><b><br>'A fascinating odyssey ... a nuanced group portrait of Chinese citizens striving for non-material answers in an era of frenetic materialism' Julia Lovell <i>Guardian </i></b><br><br>'<b>The reappearance and flourishing of religion is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the dramatic changes in China in recent decades...t</b><b>his is a beautiful moving and insightful book' Michael Szonyi</b><br><br>In no society on Earth was there such a ferocious attempt to eradicate all trace of religion as in modern China. But now following a century of violent antireligious campaigns China is awash with new temples churches and mosques - as well as cults sects and politicians trying to harness religion for their own ends. Driving this explosion of faith is uncertainty - over what it means to be Chinese and how to live an ethical life in a country that discarded traditional morality and is still searching for new guideposts.<br><br><i>The Souls of China</i> is the result of some fifteen years of studying and travelling around China. The message of Ian Johnson's extraordinary book is that China is now experiencing a 'Great Awakening' on a vast scale. Everywhere long-suppressed religions are rebuilding often in new forms and reshaping the values and behaviours of entire communities.<br><br>Ian Johnson is as happy explaining the wonders of the lunar calendar as talking to the <i>yinyang</i> man who ensures proper burials. He visits meditation masters and the charismatic head of a Chengdu church. The result is a rich and funny work that challenges conventional wisdom about China. Xi Jinping China's current leader has put a return to morality and Chinese tradition at the heart of his ideas for his country - but Johnson asks at what point will the rapid spread of belief form an unmanageable challenge to the Party's monopoly on power?</p>