The Expansion of the Andong Division of Yiguan Dao in Austria

Abstract:This article examines the dissemination of an Yiguan Dao division, Andong, in Austria. Proselytizing activities of Andong are mainly conducted in Vienna, Linz, and Salzburg. In Vienna and Linz, Yiguan Dao has formed a diasporic religion for overseas Chinese from various national backgrounds. It caters to the Austrian Chinese community and engages in creating a shared diasporic identity. This paper also explores Andong’s most characteristic trait that distinguishes it from other divisions, namely, meditation. This practice seems to have attracted a number of Austrians to follow Yiguan Dao in both Vienna and Salzburg. Being a Chinese diasporic religion and attempting to spread cross-ethnically in Austria at the same time, Yiguan Dao is assuming new significance.摘要:本文探討一貫道安東組在奧地利的傳播模式。安東道場在奧地利的傳道活動主要集中於維也納、林茲與薩爾斯堡；在維也納和林茲，一貫道以離散宗教的角色，存在於具有不同國籍背景的海外華人社群，為奧地利華人形塑共有的離散認同。本文也討論安東組不同於其他道場的修行實踐方式：靜坐，其在維也納與薩爾斯堡如何吸引了一定人數的奧地利裔信眾參與。作為華人離散宗教，同時試圖在奧地利跨族裔傳播，安東組的傳道模式讓我們看見一貫道正在呈現的可關注性。