Amerasia Journal · 1996 · 72 citations · 4 references
HumanitiesReligionReligious StudiesBuddhist StudiesHistory Of ReligionsReligious HistoryAmerican ReligionBuddhismBuddhist HistoryChinese ReligionsFolk ReligionNative American ReligionsBuddhist Temple CultureBuddhist Textual TraditionsBuddhist TraditionsChinese SocietyTemple Buddhism
Western religious studies classification schemes poorly fit Chinese religions in the U.S., so scholarship is divided into three broad categories: indigenous Chinese religions transplanted by early immigrants, Chinese Buddhism within the wider American Buddhist context, and brief overviews of Chinese Buddhist organizations. Hsi Lai aims to serve as a spiritual and cultural hub in the U.S., educate Westerners about the Dharma, and promote East‑West cultural exchange.
The direct application of Western religious studies classification schemes and labels to the study of Chinese religions and practices in the United States is problematic. Given the classification issues, the existing scholarship on Chinese religions and their establishments can be roughly grouped into three types. The first covers research on indigenous Chinese religions which were transplanted to the United States by the earliest Chinese immigrants between1854–1883 and the Chinese temples of Northern California built by these immigrants. The second focuses on Chinese Buddhism in the larger context of Buddhist traditions in America. The third includes short descriptions of selected Chinese Buddhist organizations in America, primarily found in encyclopedias of American religions. Hsi Lai's stated goal is threefold: to offer a spiritual and cultural center for the United States, to provide Westerners a place for learning about the Dharma, and to facilitate the exchange of culture between East and West.
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