Constancy and Changes in the Distribution of Religious Groups in Contemporary China: Centering on Religion as a Whole, Buddhism, Protestantism and Folk Religion

Since 1978, mass religious conversion has been a prominent feature of Chinese life. In the 1980s and 1990s, “Five types believers’ distribution (Wuduo, ??)” were characterized by inclusion “more women”, elderly”, sick people”, rural residents”, people with lower socioeconomic status”, as is academic consensus. 21st century, some scholars have proposed different view “Three trends in faith stratification (Sanhua, ??)”, namely urbanization, rejuvenation, elitism. However, these claims are either based on theoretical analysis or local cases data analysis. Based General Social Survey (CGSS) from 2010 to 2017, this study constructed comprehensive explanatory framework macroscopic, mesoscopic, microcosmic levels verify authenticity two sets propositions taking religion whole also examining representative religions such Buddhism, Protestantism folk religion. The results show that they partially invalid, thus, need be further refined explained; believer groups varies among between urban/rural areas.