CHINESE RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM IN MACAU | ORIENTIS AURA: MACAU PERSPECTIVES IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Abstract

IN THIS PAPER, I ADDRESS THE PHENOMENON OF SYNCRETISM WITH RESPECT TO CHINESE RELIGIONS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE SYNCRETISM THAT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE THREE MAJOR CHINESE RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS IS FIRST DONE IN ITS PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS. THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF CHINESE RELIGION IS THEN USED AS A FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND HOW BUDDHISM AND DAOISM WERE MADE COMPATIBLE WITH CONFUCIANISM. ALL THIS WILL SERVE AS A BACKGROUND FOR THE CASE STUDY OF MACAU, WHERE CHINESE RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM IS VERY MUCH ALIVE. THREE POPULAR RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS ARE CELEBRATED ANNUALLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF THE FOURTH LUNAR MONTH, NAMELY, ZUILONGJIE (醉龍節) FEAST OF THE DRUNKEN DRAGON, TANGONGDAN (譚公誕) TAM KUNG FESTIVAL AND FODANJIE (佛誕節) FEAST OF THE BUDDHA.