Premium
From comrades to Bodhidharma: A Bourdieusian analysis of the spiritual experience of Chinese seasonal tourists
Author(s) -
Zhang Yang,
Lee Timothy J.,
Xiong Yu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of tourism research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.155
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1522-1970
pISSN - 1099-2340
DOI - 10.1002/jtr.2306
Subject(s) - meditation , tourism , buddhism , focus group , spiritual growth , psychology , sociology , geography , religious studies , philosophy , anthropology , archaeology
This study analyzed the role of Zen meditation in shaping seasonal tourists' spiritual experience using a focus group and interview approach. Three main themes emerged from the study: (a) the desire for seasonal tourism Zen meditation induced by local hosts and the environment was generally positive; (b) the attributes of these seasonal tourists reinforced a positive image of Zen meditation through experiences of both sacred Buddhist rituals and secular daily practices in the E'Mei Mountain destination; and (c) the positive spiritual experiences through seasonal Zen meditation gained in the tourism period had a strong impact on these participants' spiritual experiences.