源於西方宗教學分類的「民間宗教」（Folk religion / Popular religion），這樣的詞彙其實是充滿爭議與岐義；有的學者認為它應包括民間通俗信仰與民間宗教結社，有的則認為民間宗教和民間信仰分屬於兩種不同類別；在中國歷代王朝中，民間宗教常常被視為是具有異端等負面的意義。相較於「三教」之外，「民間宗教」似乎更能體現與說明具有「混沌」、擴散的中國和台灣民眾宗教世界的特色。
民間宗教做為專業性的「學科」話語其時間畢竟不長，不過是近五十年左右的事，而其研究範式則卻屢經更迭。1949年以來兩岸政治上的分隔，同時也在宗教的場域中造成很大的改變與影響。二十世紀初以來，中國興起了一波以各類救贖團體為主體的宗教運動；它大致可以分成兩類，一、是具歷史教派性格的民間教門如一貫道，或是河北等地流傳的黃天道；二、則是清中葉以來在中國各處所興設的乩壇，以及由此蛻變而來的大型教團組織。這個宗教運動帶有末劫救世色彩，在儒學振興、社會救濟、生命醫療乃至近代中國社會中各個階層間造成相當大的影響；1949年之後，其中的道院、紅卍字會、一貫道、同善社紛紛轉至台灣、香港發展；一貫道並以此地為據點，隨著移民與台商的腳步逐步向世界擴散而成為世界性宗教。近代中國民間宗教的發展可說是相當的活躍，影響層面廣泛，有其重要性，亦逐漸為國際漢學界所注意。本課程採較寬鬆的解釋依專題講授，以幫助本所碩士研究生探索此一值得開發的學術研究領域。

"Folk religion/Popular religion" originated from the classification of Western religions. Such terms are actually full of controversy and ambiguity. Some scholars believe that it should include popular folk beliefs and folk religious associations, while others believe that folk religion and folk beliefs belong to two different categories. In the past dynasties of China, folk religion was often regarded as having negative connotations such as heresy. Compared with the "three religions", "folk religion" seems to be better able to reflect and explain the characteristics of the "chaotic" and diffuse popular religious world in China and Taiwan.
After all, folk religion has only been a professional "discipline" for a short period of time, only about fifty years ago, but its research paradigm has changed many times. The political separation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait since 1949 has also caused great changes and impacts in the religious field. Since the beginning of the 20th century, a wave of religious movements have arisen in China, with various salvation groups as the main body. They can be roughly divided into two categories. First, they are folk sects with historical sectarian characteristics such as Yiguandao, or Huang Tiandao spread in Hebei and other places; second, they are the ji altars that have been established in various parts of China since the middle of the Qing Dynasty, and the large-scale religious organizations that have evolved from them. This religious movement has the color of doomsday salvation and has exerted considerable influence on the revitalization of Confucianism, social relief, life medicine, and even all strata of modern Chinese society. After 1949, the Taoist Academy, Red Swastika Society, Yiguandao, and Tongshan Society moved to Taiwan and Hong Kong for development. Yiguandao used this place as its base. With the footsteps of immigrants and Taiwanese businessmen, it gradually spread to the world and became a world-wide religion. The development of folk religion in modern China can be said to be quite active, with wide-ranging influence and importance. It has also gradually attracted the attention of the international Sinology community. This course adopts a loose interpretation and is taught on a topic-by-topic basis to help our graduate students explore this academic research field worthy of development.

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