Grassroots Charisma: Four Local Leaders in China

1. Introduction Gender and religious authority in China Mingming and Stephan Structure and content of the book States and local histories Retelling other people's stories The authority of religion and its politics 2. Charisma Max Weber on charisma Two anthropologists on Western charisma Other traditions of charisma The juncture of times with historicity Part 1: Meifa 3. Meifa and its Festivals The local cult of the Master of Method (Fa Zhu Gong) Reconstructing the history of Meifa An annual cycle and its wider world Economy and organisation of festival ritual Twentieth-century adaptations 4. Revolution, Fortune, and Respect: Darkface (Wansheng) The pivot of Wansheng's story Being a good cadre The Cultural Revolution and the Cult of Mao The turning point Towards rehabilitation 5. Revitalisation of Meifa's identity Authority and force On the language of respect Part 2: Shiding 6. Shiding and its Temple Ang Kong: the General Interlude Sian Kong: the Immortal Tensions between temple and festival 7. Writing and Inspiration: Darkwood (Wumu) Spirit writing A career of charisma The ritual of writing Canonisation Inspiration with many authors One and many dictators Creation in a field of intentions 8. The Location of Face: Lin Qingbiao Custom reform Postwar revitalisation A rough tongue and an upright character Face, place and story 9. Reform and Refinement: Gao Bineng's Face A good official Gao Bineng's version of the Immortal A change of authority A new face for Shiding Politics, religion and personal authority 10. Gao Bineng at 90, his Authority and the New Politics of Taiwan Self-composition The politics of Taiwan and its martyrs A politics of culture and community Authority and respect in Shiding Part 3: Conclusions 11. Charisma in Shiding and Meifa Shiding and Meifa as places in politics of culture 12. The Dispersal of Charisma under a National Canopy A final word