Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book takes a historical turn to examine how the ideas of nature and environment are conceived in different religious and philosophical traditions in China. It goes beyond the traditional religious systems of Han Chinese by including eco-religious practices in contemporary ethnic minority regions of China. From the geographical perspective, the minorities of China occupy over 65 per cent of Chinas total territory. In this regard, the minorities could be seen as the majority of the nation. Additionally, when viewed from the perspective of Chinas current modernization programme, it is not difficult to recognize minorities as Chinas strategic majority because of the fact that most domestic natural resources come from the minority region. The book hopes to initiate a study of the intersection of urban ecology, religious diversity and secular beliefs.