Stating the Sacred: Religion, China, and the Formation of the Nation-State

China?s constitution explicitly refers to its sovereign domain as ?sacred territory.? Why does an avowedly secular state make such a claim, and what does this suggest about the relations between religion and the nation-state? Focusing primarily on China, Stating the Sacred offers a novel approach to nation-state formation, arguing that its most critical element is how the state sacralizes the nation.

Michael J. Walsh explores the religious and political dimensions of Chinese state ideology, ...