Goddess on the Rise: Pilgrimage and Popular Religion in Vietnam

Taylor (anthropology, Australian National U.) provides an ethnographic account of pilgrimages and the revival of popular religion in Vietnam. Focusing on the goddess known as the Lady of the Realm, whose shrine near the Vietnam-Cambodia border attracts one of the largest pilgrimages in the country, Taylor's study demonstrates the growing interest in recent years in feminine spirits. It offers insights into the "effervescence, creativity, social complexity, and interpretive ferment of popular religiosity" in contemporary Vietnam, and a unique look at the economic, cultural, and social changes occurring in the country today. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR