Martial Gods and Magic Swords: Identity, Myth, and Violence in Chinese Popular Religion
Author(s)
Boretz, Avron A.
Abstract
“Man of prowess,” the martial God of the Han-tan Ia religion of China, reflects the dominance of gangster subculture. The Chinese government’s efforts to take control of this religion was part of a government desire to control rising violence in the society. Popular Chinese religions contain a number of ritualistic practices and in most of the cases the ritualistic objects are related with traditional warriors. The predominance of militaristic objects reflects the collective desire of a society towards achieving power.
