The Historical Tradition and Contemporary Legacy of Catholic Religious Education in China

Religious education is crucial for the transmission and development of Catholicism. China does not have an organized and institutionalized system for religious education as do Western countries. However, a unique folk religious education system named shanghui (上会) emerged in the localization of Chinese Catholicism. This study explores the development of shanghui through a combination of archival research and fieldwork, using the example of a rural Catholic community in southwest Hubei. Shanghui is a strategic localization practice adopted by the Catholic Church in response to social development and cultural changes. The study contributes to the exploration of the religious education model of the grassroots Catholic Church in China.