Events

CHAIRPERSON

Prof Kenneth Dean, Asia Research Institute, and Department of Chinese Studies, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

Disputes over rituals have given rise to major revolutionary movements in human history. This is true for the Protestant Revolution of 16^th century Europe, perhaps the most important revolution in the making of the modern world, but also for the failed Mutiny and Taiping risings of 19^th century in India and China, as well as for the various atheistic Communist revolutions in Asia. These disputes over rituals are often interpreted as “sideshows” of the real political struggles or as “the hidden registers of resistance”, but in fact, they are really about the efficacy, rationality, or “sincerity” of certain rituals. Such controversies have immense impact on the values and political orientations of people, as is shown by the rise of vegetarianism and non-violent politics in India. In China and Vietnam, the anti-superstition and anti-cult aspects of repressive authoritarianism have had huge consequences. The repression of certain rituals does not result in the abolition of all ritual. In fact, Protestantism and Communism have come up with their own rituals. This talk will discuss the dynamic of ritual and anti-ritual from an anthropological viewpoint in general, theoretical terms, but will take its examples from India, China, and Vietnam.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Peter van der Veer is a virtual academic visitor at the Asia Research Institute (ARI) of National University of Singapore, and has been frequently visiting ARI over the years. He is Director Emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Göttingen, and Emeritus Professor at Utrecht University. He is a fellow of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Minzu University in Beijing. He is the author of many books and articles, the most recent of which is Refugees and Religion (Bloomsbury, 2020).

REGISTRATION

Registration is closed, and instructions on how to participate in this webinar has been sent out to registered attendees. Please write to aritm@nus.edu.sg if you would like to attend the webinar.