Abstracts and Key Words

摘要

Religion, State and Civil Religion： Assumption and Practice of Confucian Religion in the Course of Nation-state Construction CAN Chun-songrn Abstract： In late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China, Kang You-wei made a proposal to set Confucian religion as state religion. After analyzing carefully Kang＇s related texts, however, it can be shown that Kang had unique understandings of ＂religion＂ and ＂state religion＂. Kang defined Confucianism as religion in the sense of cultivation, and emphasized that the function of Confucianism was moral education. Kang＇s understanding of ＂state religion＂ aims to conserve Chinese traditional cultures and customs, shape the identity of nation-state, and enhance the state＇s cohesion. In this sense, Kang＇s definition of ＂national religion＂ is similar to to Bellah＇s ＂civil religion＂.