East Asian Languages and Societies Commons^™

Asia Pacific Perspectives Vol. 5 No. 1, December 2004, University Of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Contents:

Introduction by Joseph Tse-Hei Lee

In East Asia, the complexity of church-state relations can be better understood if one takes into account the involvement of local community in negotiating with the state over sacred and secular matters. This article argues that the church, state, and community were not independent variables, but constantly negotiated with each other over the control of religions, religious institutions and rituals. When the state was strong, the church and community participated in the formation of the state power. As the state power declined, the church and community reverted to their original independence and crossed the …