Nedostup's timely book illustrates the intimate connections between the governance of religion and the religion of governance during the Republican period, avoiding simplistic notions of secularism and demonstrating that state powers in modern China have consistently asserted authority over social categories of religion and superstition. Religious actors as well participated in this process, marshaling politically connected spokespeople and using the terminology and regulations of religious governance for their own purposes. Several aspects of Nedostup's thesis are especially compelling, such as the “legibility” of religions in the eyes of the state, and the “religious remainder” that thwarts totalizing efforts on the part of regulators. Sources used include a wealth of archival material, news reports, and personal correspondence, giving a very well‐rounded view of the issues. Buddhist, Daoist, Confucian, and popular religions all appear, and though Christian and Muslim groups are not discussed in as much detail, it does not detract from what is a comprehensive and very engaging study. This should be considered the standard scholarly work on the subject of “religion and the politics of Chinese Modernity.”
