A Spatial Study of Religion and Urbanization in China
Shuming BaoChina Data Center
University of Michigan
&
Xiaodong FuSchool of EconomicsRenmin University
19521962197219821992200220120
20406080
100Urban Rural
Buddhism1949-2004
Taoism1949-2004
Islam1949-2004
Christian1949-2004
Spatial Distribution and Trends of Religious Sites in China
TopicsI. IntroductionII. MethodologyIII. DataIV. Empirical AnalysisV. Summary and Discussion
Urban Expansion in China by Night Light Shanghai 1990 Shanghai 2000 Shanghai 2008
Nanchang 2000 Nanchang 2005 Nanchang 2008
The Trends of Urban-Rural Population in China
1952 1962 1972 1982 1992 2002 20120
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100Urban Rural
Religion and Urbanization Literature: Urbanization may have negative impact on religious development Test: Where are mostly dynamic changes in religious sites located: urban
and rural regions?
1850 1900 1950 1980 2000 20040
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000Buddhism in three different areas
Jiedao Town Xiang
1850 1900 1950 1980 2000 20040
10002000300040005000600070008000
Christian in three different areas
Jiedao Town Xiang
1850 1900 1950 1980 2000 20040
100020003000400050006000700080009000 Islam in three different areas
Jiedao Town Xiang
1850 1900 1950 1980 2000 20040
200400600800
1000120014001600 Taoism in three different areas
Jiedao Town Xiang
II. Methodology
Classification of urban, rural and transitional areas
Structural analysis Test of spatial autocorrelation Space-Time Analysis
III. DataReligious Sites:- Original data source from 2004 Economic Census- Atlas of Religions in China (UMCDC):
- Buddhism- Taoism- Christianity- Muslim- others
Population Census:- Original data source from population Census (1953, 1964, 1982, 1990, 2000)- China Population Census Data with GIS Maps (province, city, county and
townships)Economic Census:- Original data source from business Census (1995, 2001, 2004)- China Economic Census Data with GIS Maps (province, city, county and ZIP) - Digital Atlas by Industries of ChinaOthers:- Socioeconomic Statistics, Geography, Environment, ……
Defining Urban, Rural and Transitional Areas Urban Area: Non-agricultural population > 50% Transition Area: Non-agricultural population < 50% and Migration > 20% Rural Area: Non-agricultural population < 50% and Migration < 20%
IV. Empirical Analysis: Religious Development and Urbanization
% in Rural
% in Urban
Buddhism and Urbanization
Start-ups
Percentage by urban, rural and transition areas
Accumulation
Urban
Rural
Christianity and Urbanization
Start-ups
Percentage by urban, rural and transition areas
Accumulation
Urban
Rural
Islam and Urbanization
Start-ups
Percentage by urban, rural and transition areas
Accumulation
Urban
Rural
Taoism and Urbanization
Start-ups
Percentage by urban, rural and transition areas
Accumulation
Transition
Spatial Autocorrelation of Church Distribution by Provinces
n
i
n
ij
ij
n
i
n
ij
jiij
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xxxxwdI
2
))(()(
The Christianity Development in Western China
Inner Mongolia
Ningxia
Xinjiang
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
The Christianity Development in Northeastern China
Liaoning
Heilongjiang
Jilin
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
The Christianity Development in Eastern China
Zhejiang
Shandong
Jiangsu
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
The Christianity Development in Central China
Hubei
Jiangxi
Hunan
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
The Christianity Development in Southern China
Guangdong
Guangxi
Yunnan
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
Transition
Urban
Rural
Summary and DiscussionsGrowth of religion in urban, rural and transition areas: All religions: keep increasing in all areas with mostly dynamic growth in rural
area Buddhism: Faster growth in urban area Christianity: Faster growth in rural area Islam: Balanced growth in urban and rural areas and not much changes in
transition area Taoism: Balanced growth in all areas
The growth of Christianity in different regions: Eastern: Balanced growth in all areas with majority in rural areas Southern: Faster growth in rural area Central: Faster growth in rural area with initial majority in urban area Northeastern: Faster growth in rural area Western: Majority are in urban area with faster growth in transition area
Discussion: Data are limited to registered religious sites. Data are based on the cross-sectional data, which don’t include those
disappeared religious sites. Results may be sensitive to how the urban and rural areas are defined.
Spatial Analysis with the Spatial Explorer of Religion
Reports on Religious Distribution and Urbanization
Reports on Religious Distribution and Urbanization
Religious Sites by Urban/Rural/Transitional Area & Province
Religious Sites by Jiedao/Town/Township & Province
Spatial Explorer of Religionhttp://chinadataonline.org/religionexplorer
PySAL StatGeo
Modeling
Religious Sites::- Buddhism- Taoism- Christianity- Muslim- others
Population Census DataEconomic Census DataHistorical DataReference Data
Changes in religious structure
