Angels, Demons, and Immortals: Everyday Life and Religion in Manchukuo

Abstract

<p><br></p><p>The religious landscape of Manchuria distinguishes this region from China proper, as the most popular Chinese religions of Daoism and Buddhism never became well-established in Manchurian society. The dominant regional religious expressions center on local shamans and various folk religions. Christianity made inroads in immigrant settlements and gained significant progress in the early twentieth century. Under the new regime of Manchukuo, the region witnessed intensive competition between religions and the new regime’s spiritual governance, as different religious and political players, both domestic and international, imagined a particular role for religion in the daily life of the new regime. This article draws on a wide range of historical materials and church records to explore the relationship between spirituality, occupation, and everyday life during Japanese Manchukuo. It argues that the crossings of religion and everyday life in local society have constructed a powerful contemporary narrative about the imperial territorial expansion where the divine had a powerful and immediate presence.</p>