ABSTRACT
This chapter presents empirical evidence that the urban infrastructure and layout of urban design of Shenzhen is influenced by ritual spaces which are created by actions of many individuals and groups. Ritual is an activity that takes place in space and time. In the social domain, space and time are not continuous but are structured by ritual: Rituals take place at certain locations and impose a rhythm on the flow of time. Ritual spaces are typically demarcated by artefacts that play a pivotal role in collective activities that involve emotional entrainment and effervescence emerging in situations of bodily co-presence. Space is structured by ritual too, such as designing a public square and a church in a way to enable the proper conduct of ritual. To summarize, ritual space is a central feature of traditional Chinese culture and popular religion, especially in village life.
