ABSTRACT
This chapter presents data on Western Hunan's geographic features, as well as its settlement history, demographic and social structures, etc. There are also brief discussions of reports about poisoning scares and zombies, often invoked in the context of labels like “Mysterious Western Hunan” (Shenmi de Xiangxi 神秘的湘西). The chapter concludes with an assessment of governmentality in the form of state attempts to control local religious life, as well as the challenges indigenous beliefs and practice face today.
