本书系统介绍了中国传统社会中先后出现的民间教派弥勒大乘教、摩尼教、白莲教等十多种教派。这些教派在中国底层社会有深刻、广泛的影响，对中华民族性格的形成具有不可忽视的作用。

This book systematically introduces more than ten kinds of folk sects that have emerged in traditional Chinese society, such as Maitreya, Mahayana, Manichaeism, and White Lotusism. These sects have a profound and extensive influence on the lower level of Chinese society and play a non-negligible role in the formation of the Chinese national character.（AI翻译）