Crossing Faiths: Fu Cu, Missionaries, and Nation-State in Southwest China.

This book offers an in-depth exploration of the Lahu people’s religious and cultural transformations from the late 18th century to the present day. Situated in the mountainous border regions of Southwest China and Southeast Asia, the Lahu have experienced significant religious shifts--adopting Fu Cu (Buddha) belief in response to Qing dynasty frontier policies, transitioning to Christianity following the Qing suppression of the Fu Cu movement, and confronting the atheistic stance of the Communist state post-1949. This study meticulously examines how the Lahu have navigated these changes, integrating external religious and political influences while preserving their cultural identity.

Lihong Lei, Assistant Professor at the Fudan Development Institute, Fudan University. His research explores religious change, frontier governance, and nation-state formation through historical anthropology, drawing on extensive fieldwork and archival studies among borderland communities in Southwest China.