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A. The "folk religion" and the "elite religions," including the "official religion" or the "state cult" are categories used by many analysts of Chinese religion. This folk-elite distinction in talking about religion is part of a larger folk-elite distinction used to analyze imperial (and sometimes even contemporary) Chinese society as a whole. The distinction goes back in writing at least to Confucius, who said that the rites and ceremonies to not extend down to the common people. In light of the connections between societal elites and "folk" religious practices, described in articles by Duara and Sangren, can we really make a sharp distinction between elite and folk practices? If so, where do we draw the line? If not, how do we account for the demonstrable differences between the religious life of a Confucian scholar and that of an ordinary peasant?
B. Many scholars have characterized Confucianism as a secular philosophy, rather than a religion, partly on the basis of the rationalist outlook of Song scholars, and partly on the basis of Confucius's own saying that one should "conduct rituals to the ghosts and spirits, and thereby keep them at a distance." There is no doubt that Confucianism stressed the importance of ritual, as you can see in your readings from Robert Eno and Rodney Taylor. But is this emphasis on ritual enough to classify Confucianism as a religion? Why or why not? How does you answer change depending on your definition of "religion"? Finally, after conducting this exercise, do you think you have changed or refined your view of what is or is not religion?