Scattered Notes on Reading Mr. C. K. Yang’s Religion in Chinese Society

Abstract

Why C. K. Yang’s classic work Religion in Chinese Societyis considered a “biblical”-level sociological classic in the study of Chinese religion stems mainly from its three core contributions: First, a unique dynamic research perspective.Unlike previous studies that focused on historical textual criticism or philosophical speculation, C. K. Yang viewed religion as a dynamic, functional component within Chinese social life, vividly depicting the complex interactive relationships between religion and secular institutions such as the family, socio-economic groups, and state politics.Second, profound historical consciousness and methodological innovation.Yang's research is permeated with a clear historical awareness, treating tradition and modernity as interconnected wholes rather than ruptures. He creatively employed the conceptual pair of "institutional religion" and "diffused religion" to effectively explain the characteristic integration of Chinese religion into the secular social order, avoiding the barriers and misunderstandings inherent in models based on Western institutional religion.Third, academic practice that actively responds to issues of the era.Set against the historical backdrop of the “impact-response” model in Western Sinology, Yang’s research was not only a scholarly refutation of claims like Liang Qichao’s that “China has no religion”, but also embodied how that generation of intellectuals, amidst epochal changes, used academic research to explore the fundamental question of “Whither China?” It reflects a deep sense of “scholarly concern for the world”. In conclusion, Yang’s work transcends the mere study of religion; its ultimate goal is to use religion as a methodto profoundly understand Chinese society itself. This broad vision ensures the enduring relevance of his academic legacy.