Influence of Foreign Religions on Urban Culture in Harbin in the Early 20th Century

Abstract

Religious lifestyle is the lifestyle of religious believers who restrict their behaviors according to the provisions of religious teachings. It can be regarded as a special combination of social groups -- the lifestyle of religious believers. At the same time, it has one side consistent with secular life style. In 1898, the construction of the Middle East Railway opened a huge “social revolution” for Harbin, China, which rapidly rose from a traditional natural village to a modern metropolis in Northeast Asia within a short period of one or two decades. As the city opened its own port for trade, a large number of immigrants from Russia, Japan, the United States, France, Britain, Germany and other countries poured into the city. The Middle East Railway became the carrier of migration of immigrants, and immigrants became the media for the spread of religious beliefs. Foreign religions were brought to Harbin, which formed a special and main content of Harbin life style.