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Cited by 481Chinese history and philosophyReligion and Society InteractionsChina's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance

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The Red, Black, and Gray Markets of Religion in China

Yang, Fenggang·2006·The Sociological Quarterly
DOI 10.1111/j.1533-8525.2006.00039.x
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Abstract

The economic approach to religion has confined its application to Christendom in spite of the ambition of the core theorists for its universal applicability. Moreover, the supply-side market theory focuses on one type of religiosity—religious participation (membership and attendance) in formal religious organizations. In an attempt to analyze the religious situation in contemporary China, a country with religious traditions and regulations drastically different from Europe and the Americas, I propose a triple-market model: a red market (officially permitted religions), a black market (officially banned religions), and a gray market (religions with an ambiguous legal/illegal status). The gray market concept accentuates noninstitutionalized religiosity. The triple-market model is useful to understand the complex religious situation in China, and it may be extendable to other societies as well.

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Metadata

Authors
Yang, F.
Affiliations
Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
Corresponding author
Yang, Fenggang
ORCID
Yang, Fenggang
Venue
The Sociological Quarterly
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2006-02-01
Volume
47
Issue
1
Pages
93-122
ISSN
  • 0038-0253 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-8525
DOI
10.1111/j.1533-8525.2006.00039.x
OpenAlex
W2067474626
Cited by
481
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 35
FWCI
17.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 3499 d)
Locations
Sociological Quarterly (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Chinese history and philosophy
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance
Keywords
religion and economics, black market, grey market, religious regulation, religious participation

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: The Red, Black, and Gray Markets of Religion in China. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1111/j.1533-8525.2006.00039.x
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Yang, F. (2006). The Red, Black, and Gray Markets of Religion in China. The Sociological Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.2006.00039.x