A Temporal Pantheon: The Construction, Circulation and Devotional Use of Fasting Calendars in Late Imperial China

In late imperial China, while permanent vegetarianism was often criticized, periodic fasting gained widespread state and social acceptance. Central to this practice were widely circulated fasting calendars, which mapped sacred dates to encourage ritual purity, accumulate merit, and foster divine connections. This presentation explores the construction, circulation, and reception of knowledge concerning "divine time." Focusing on the representative Yuxiaji (玉匣記) and analyzing editions from 1684 to 1891, the study reveals how a shared repertoire of fasting days was created, transcending strict regional and confessional divides. Furthermore, by juxtaposing these prescriptive texts with descriptive historical sources from Suzhou—a major publishing and religious hub—this research demonstrates how fasting calendars were actively employed in daily practice, ultimately shedding light on the sanctification of everyday life and the temporal experience of spirituality.