The modern spirit of Asia the spiritual and the secular in China and India

"The Modern Spirit of Asia challenges the notion that modernity in China and India are derivative imitations of the West, arguing that these societies have transformed their ancient traditions in unique and distinctive ways.Peter van der Veer begins with nineteenth-century imperial history, exp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Veer, Peter van der (Author)
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: Princeton, New Jersey Princeton University Press 2014
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:"The Modern Spirit of Asia challenges the notion that modernity in China and India are derivative imitations of the West, arguing that these societies have transformed their ancient traditions in unique and distinctive ways.Peter van der Veer begins with nineteenth-century imperial history, exploring how Western concepts of spirituality,secularity, religion, and magic were used to translate the traditions of India and China. He traces how modern western notions of religion and magic were incorporated into the respective nation-building projects of Chinese and Indian nationalist entellectuals, yet how modernity in China and India is by no means uniform. While religion is a centerpiece of Indian nationalism, it is viewed in China as an obstacle to progress that must be marginalized and controlled." -- Publisher website
Physical Description:xi, 282 pages 24 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index
ISBN:9780691128153