This book investigates the socio-historical mechanisms that allowed the cult of the Chinese deity Wong Tai Sin to survive the suppression of religious practices in mainland China and flourish as a prominent spiritual institution in Hong Kong. Authors Graeme Lang and Lars Ragvald utilize extensive field research and historical analysis to document the transformation of Wong Tai Sin from a localized healing deity into a versatile spiritual figure addressing the anxieties of modern urban life. The text argues that the deity's success is inextricably linked to the specific pressures of Hong Kong's rapid industrialization and social instability.

Experts in the field of Chinese religion and sociology identify this work as a foundational case study for understanding the resilience of folk religion in modern urban settings. Readers frequently note the clarity of the authors' sociological framework and the depth of their ethnographic research into Hong Kong's religious landscape.