Spirit Writing and Popular Religion in China

What does it mean to receive a message from a god? How have ordinary people in Chinese history used writing not just to record the divine—but to produce it? This seminar explores spirit writing (fuji 扶乩), a ritual practice of communicating with gods, ghosts, and immortals through writing, and the broader world of Chinese popular religion from which it emerged. Through case studies of mountain cults, female immortals, child mediums, and moral texts, we will examine how people across Chinese history sought divine insight, legitimacy, and healing. Readings include miracle tales, ritual manuals, and planchette transcripts, alongside scholarship from anthropology, history, and religious studies. Students will gain new perspectives on the creative, contested, and often gendered process of engaging with the spirit world.