Customer Reviews

Peasant Politics and Religious Sectarianism: Peasant and Priest in the Cao Dai in Viet Nam (Monography Ser. : No. 23)

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In this book, Jane Werner looks at economic, social and political causes for the rise of the Cao Dai religion in 1920s Vietnam, and continues analyzing these factors through its history into the 1970s, especially at its relations with the French and the Vietnamese communists. She barely mentions its ritual, doctrine or art, and attempts no psychological or spiritual analysis. So it probably isn't a good introduction to Cao Dai, but it's good for people with only a little familiarity or interest. Of course there isn't a good introduction to the religious aspects of Cao Dai, but this is a very good coverage of its history.

Includes appendices with some maps, statistics and b/w photos; the maps might be really helpful for someone unfamiliar with S Vietnam's geography.

If you have trouble finding this book, contact Yale University's Southeast Asia Studies Department, who published it. They will at least be able to send you a photocopy. (I think I bought one of their last prints of this book!)

Yale University Southeast Asia Studies
Box 13A
New Haven CT 06520