Local History and National Politics in the Reconstructions of the Donglin Academy, 1604-2004

• In Event: The Religious as Secular: Space, Ritual Practice, and Power Relations at Imperial and Confucian Sacred Sites

Abstract

The Donglin Academy in Wuxi, Jiangsu, has been known as the birthplace and eponym of a Confucian revival in early seventeenth century China. Though scholars have recognized Donglin as a remarkable example of Confucian activism since, the ways through which the physical site of the Donglin Academy became a political and cultural symbol in both local society and central politics have been less addressed. I argue that the materiality of this Confucian academy offers not only a window into the daily practices that frequently inform us inter-religious and local concerns, but also a new perspective on both the continuity and continuation of the legacy of Donglin and its place in Confucianism.

The Donglin Academy had undergone several reconstructions from the late imperial to modern times—first in 1604, then during the early Qing, thirdly in the 1930s, and lastly in the early 2000s. Focusing on these reconstructions, my paper examines how this academy has provided a common ground for diverse interpretations and practices of Confucian teachings to interweave with both local and national power networks. Moreover, it will explore how different actors expressed the Confucian and Chinese identity in religious practices and daily life.

Author

• Hsueh-Yi Lin, University of Wisconsin-Madison