Abstract:

Abstract： This paper examines the sociological paradigms for studying religion in China on the basis of Ching Kun Yang’s innovative， outstanding research in this field. His book Religion in Chinese Society， as a modern classic modeling how to conduct sociological studies on religion in China， has been acknowledged for its high values in academic work and theory building. It is definitely a very important reference book to the sociologists who’d like to carry on this line of research. In contrast to Western institutionalized religion， Yang has put forward the concept of diverse religion， contending that diverse religious beliefs and rituals will have the opportunity to evolve into organized social systems， and at the same time， to function as part of the social organizational whole. In its diversified form， religion is playing multiple functions and exists as a form of organization in the Chinese secular social life. Yang was the first scholar who demonstrated from the broad perspective of sociology the existential form of religion in China， its rationality and historical traditions. His work has laid down a very important academic foundation for later scholars to carry out their research.

Key words: Keywords： Ching Kun Yang，religion in China，sociology of religion