Old Temple New Gods
Old Temple New Gods takes readers on a vivid journey through the evolving rituals of Confucian temple enshrinement during the Qing Dynasty, unpacking how this ancient institution shifted to navigate political upheaval and cultural change. Starting with the dual public-private role of Confucian temples—serving as state tools for social order and professional shrines for scholar-officials—the book traces key turning points: from Emperor Yongzheng’s massive expansion of enshrined scholars to Daoguang’s crackdown on overcrowding, and finally to the fiery late-Qing debate over honoring Ming loyalists Gu Yanwu, Huang Zongxi, and Wang Fuzhi. It reveals fierce clashes between conservatives, reformers, and revolutionaries, showing how the Qing court tried to co-opt these unorthodox thinkers to legitimize constitutional reform and preserve traditional culture, even as their ideas were weaponized by opposing factions. This isn’t just a story of rituals; it’s a window into a dying dynasty’s desperate struggle to redefine orthodoxy amid crisis.