Journal of Chinese Religions

Scope & Guideline

Navigating the Landscape of China's Religious Practices

Introduction

Welcome to the Journal of Chinese Religions information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Journal of Chinese Religions, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0737-769x
PublisherJOHNS HOPKINS UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Converge1983, from 2015 to 2023
AbbreviationJ CHINESE RELIG / J. Chin. Relig.
Frequency2 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressJOURNALS PUBLISHING DIVISION, 2715 NORTH CHARLES ST, BALTIMORE, MD 21218-4363

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of Chinese Religions aims to provide a comprehensive platform for the exploration and scholarly analysis of various religious traditions in China, focusing on their historical development, cultural contexts, and contemporary practices. It emphasizes interdisciplinary research and encourages contributions that illuminate the complexities and diversities within Chinese religions.
  1. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Chinese Religions:
    The journal fosters research that incorporates methodologies from various disciplines, including history, anthropology, sociology, and religious studies, to provide a multifaceted understanding of Chinese religious practices and beliefs.
  2. Historical Contextualization:
    A significant focus is placed on the historical evolution of religious traditions in China, examining how historical events, cultural shifts, and social changes have shaped religious practices and ideologies over time.
  3. Contemporary Practices and Issues:
    The journal addresses current trends and issues within Chinese religions, exploring how traditional practices adapt and respond to modern societal challenges, including globalization, urbanization, and transnational movements.
  4. Diversity of Religious Traditions:
    It emphasizes the rich diversity of religious traditions in China, including Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and various folk religions, showcasing their unique characteristics and interrelations.
  5. Cultural and Material Aspects of Religion:
    The journal encourages studies that investigate the material culture associated with religious practices, including rituals, artifacts, and architectural forms, to understand their significance in the socio-cultural landscape.
Recent publications in the Journal of Chinese Religions reveal a dynamic shift towards emerging themes that reflect contemporary concerns and interdisciplinary approaches. This section outlines the key areas of increasing focus that are shaping the future of research within the journal.
  1. Intersections of Religion and Gender:
    An increasing number of studies are examining the roles and representations of gender within Chinese religious contexts, highlighting how gender dynamics influence religious practices and community structures.
  2. Modernity and Religion:
    There is a growing trend to explore the impact of modernity on traditional religious practices, including how globalization and urbanization reshape religious identities and expressions in contemporary China.
  3. Transnational Religious Movements:
    Recent publications have begun to focus more on transnational religious movements, particularly how Chinese religious practices are adapted and transformed in diasporic communities around the world.
  4. Ecological Perspectives in Religion:
    Emerging themes include the interplay between religion and ecology, with studies investigating how religious beliefs inform ecological practices and responses to environmental challenges in China.
  5. Digital Religion and Media:
    The influence of digital technology and media on religious practices is increasingly being examined, addressing how online platforms and digital communication reshape religious engagement and community formation.

Declining or Waning

While the Journal of Chinese Religions has consistently showcased a broad range of topics, certain themes appear to be declining in prominence over recent years. This section highlights these waning areas of focus, reflecting shifts in scholarly interest and the evolving landscape of religious studies in China.
  1. Traditional Ritual Practices:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in studies specifically focusing on traditional ritual practices, as scholars increasingly prioritize contemporary adaptations and the sociopolitical implications of these rituals in modern contexts.
  2. Historical Figures and Biographies:
    Research centered on historical figures within Chinese religions, while still relevant, seems to be less frequent, as the focus shifts towards broader themes such as community practices and the socio-political dimensions of religious movements.
  3. Local Folk Religions:
    The exploration of localized folk religions and their specific practices appears to be waning, possibly due to a greater emphasis on transnational movements and global perspectives within Chinese religious studies.
  4. Philosophical Textual Analysis:
    Studies that primarily engage in philosophical textual analysis of classical religious texts are becoming less common, as the journal emphasizes more applied and contextual approaches to understanding these texts in contemporary settings.

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