Journey to the East (and Back): China and “Western Esotericism” from Reception History to Global Religious Studies
Davide Marino (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg)

Date: May 8, 2025
Time: 18:00 – 19:30
Place: KWZ 0.603 

Abstract:

This presentation examines the intricate and multifaceted relationship between Chinese spiritual culture(s) and the field of “Western Esotericism.” For centuries, the East, and particularly China, was regarded by Europeans as a repository of superior spiritual knowledge, a realm of profound wisdom that seemed inaccessible to the West. This perception of the East as a mystical and enigmatic source of ancient wisdom persisted across various periods of European intellectual history, with China holding a particularly prominent place in Western imagination. Beginning in the early modern period, and reaching its peak during the colonial era, Western thinkers found abundant inspiration in Chinese religions, philosophies, and cultural practices and these elements were integrated into the evolving spiritual and philosophical discourses of the time, ultimately becoming essential components of the eclectic mix of ideas now known as “Western Esotericism.” China was not simply “received” or passively absorbed into Western thought; rather, various Chinese intellectuals, spiritual leaders, and cultural movements became active participants in a global esoteric discourse that transcended geographical boundaries and facilitated the exchange of ideas. This dynamic of intellectual and spiritual exchange is even more pronounced in contemporary times. While in “the West,” Chinese cultural elements such as Chinese medicine, the Daodejing, and the notion of qi have become widely embraced as staples of global post-confessional spirituality, “Western Esotericism” is increasingly being discussed, reinterpreted, and adapted in the People’s Republic, both in commercial contexts and within academic discourse. This growing interest reflects a reciprocal flow of ideas that continues to shape global spiritual trends. Although often overlooked by Western scholars, Chinese perspectives on “Western Esotericism” present a challenge to traditional diffusionist models, which tend to view the flow of ideas as a one-way process. Instead, these Chinese perspectives reveal a more complex and circular flow of ideas, which calls into question the conventional notion of one-way reception (whether “from East to West” or “from West to East”). China did not merely provide raw material for Western thinkers to appropriate and adapt for their own purposes; rather, Chinese cultural and spiritual traditions actively shaped and influenced the trajectory of global discourses on esotericism. Likewise, contemporary Chinese discourses on “Western Esotericism” are increasingly framed around both domestic issues—such as the role and necessity of regulating religion in Chinese society—and international debates on religion, science, and public health. Thus, this presentation advocates for a global and interdisciplinary approach to the study of esotericism—one that recognizes the entangled and reciprocal histories of “China” and “the West,” and acknowledges their shared responsibility in shaping the development of modern and postmodern alternative religious trajectories.

Davide Marino, PhD

Davide Marino specializes in the interplay between East Asian religions, particularly Chinese, and European Esotericism, with a focus on Traditionalism. His Ph.D. thesis, which received the CUHK Young Scholars Thesis Award in 2023, examined the influence of Chinese and Vietnamese religious concepts on the works of Albert de Pouvourville and René Guénon. More recently, he has been investigating the intersection of politics and esotericism in both China and Europe.

Organizers:

Department of East Asian Studies, University of Göttingen
Centre for Modern East Asian Studies, University of Göttingen

Image: Image: Gauthier Delecroix, Spirituality   CC BY 2.0, https://flic.kr/p/MxGNDj