Place and spirit in Taiwan

By Alessandro Dell'Orto

Book Description

Through meticulous fieldwork and immersive study, Alessandro Dell'Orto invites readers into the rich spiritual landscape of Taiwan, where ancient traditions meet modern transformation. This ethnographic exploration centers on the worship of Tudi Gong, local earth deities whose veneration reveals profound insights about community, belonging, and sacred connection to place.

Dell'Orto demonstrates how these religious practices serve as both spiritual anchors and adaptive strategies for people navigating rapid social change. Rather than simply documenting rituals, he illuminates how communities use traditional worship to maintain identity while embracing transformation. The study reveals how sacred spaces and spiritual practices become vehicles for understanding broader questions of home, memory, and cultural continuity.

The author weaves together personal ethnographic observations with the voices of practitioners themselves, creating a multifaceted portrait of lived spirituality. Through this approach, readers encounter not just academic analysis but authentic human experiences of the sacred. The work contributes valuable perspectives on how place and space shape spiritual meaning, offering insights relevant to anyone interested in the intersection of geography, community, and religious practice.

This comprehensive examination provides both scholarly depth and accessible storytelling, making complex anthropological concepts understandable while honoring the dignity and wisdom of the spiritual traditions explored. Dell'Orto's work offers a window into how ancient practices continue to provide meaning and guidance in contemporary life.