diff --git a/src/kernel/CMakeLists.txt b/src/kernel/CMakeLists.txt
index 8e5eef9ca..1848025bf 100644
--- a/src/kernel/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/kernel/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pool_test.c
 reports_test.c
 spellbook_test.c
 curse_test.c
+jsonconf_test.c
 )
 
 SET(_FILES
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ teleport.c
 terrain.c
 unit.c
 xmlreader.c
+jsonconf.c
 )
 
 FOREACH(_FILE ${_FILES})
diff --git a/src/kernel/building.c b/src/kernel/building.c
index 4cb556e3e..140c25eeb 100644
--- a/src/kernel/building.c
+++ b/src/kernel/building.c
@@ -154,6 +154,20 @@ void bt_register(building_type * type)
   ql_push(&buildingtypes, (void *)type);
 }
 
+building_type *bt_get_or_create(const char *name)
+{
+  if (name != NULL) {
+    building_type *btype = bt_find(name);
+    if (btype == NULL) {
+      btype = calloc(sizeof(building_type), 1);
+      btype->_name = _strdup(name);
+      bt_register(btype);
+    }
+    return btype;
+  }
+  return NULL;
+}
+
 int buildingcapacity(const building * b)
 {
   if (b->type->capacity >= 0) {
diff --git a/src/kernel/building.h b/src/kernel/building.h
index c91fa01df..122bb45a2 100644
--- a/src/kernel/building.h
+++ b/src/kernel/building.h
@@ -73,10 +73,11 @@ extern "C" {
 
   extern struct quicklist *buildingtypes;
 
-  extern building_type *bt_find(const char *name);
-  extern void register_buildings(void);
-  extern void bt_register(struct building_type *type);
-  extern int bt_effsize(const struct building_type *btype,
+  building_type *bt_find(const char *name);
+  building_type *bt_get_or_create(const char *name);
+  void register_buildings(void);
+  void bt_register(struct building_type *type);
+  int bt_effsize(const struct building_type *btype,
     const struct building *b, int bsize);
 
 /* buildingt => building_type
diff --git a/src/kernel/equipment_test.c b/src/kernel/equipment_test.c
index a526c5abc..4c2268178 100644
--- a/src/kernel/equipment_test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/equipment_test.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ void test_equipment(CuTest * tc)
   sc_mage * mage;
   
   test_cleanup();
+  test_create_race("human");
   skill_enabled[SK_MAGIC] = 1;
   it_horses = test_create_itemtype(names);
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, it_horses);
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..16e0fa28a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+/* vi: set ts=2:
++-------------------+
+|                   |  Enno Rehling <enno@eressea.de>
+| Eressea PBEM host |  Christian Schlittchen <corwin@amber.kn-bremen.de>
+| (c) 1998 - 2004   |  Katja Zedel <katze@felidae.kn-bremen.de>
+|                   |  Henning Peters <faroul@beyond.kn-bremen.de>
++-------------------+
+
+This program may not be used, modified or distributed
+without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
+*/
+
+#include <platform.h>
+#include <kernel/config.h>
+#include "jsonconf.h"
+
+/* kernel includes */
+#include "building.h"
+#include "equipment.h"
+#include "item.h"
+#include "message.h"
+#include "race.h"
+#include "region.h"
+#include "resources.h"
+#include "ship.h"
+#include "terrain.h"
+#include "skill.h"
+#include "spell.h"
+#include "spellbook.h"
+#include "calendar.h"
+
+/* util includes */
+#include <util/attrib.h>
+#include <util/bsdstring.h>
+#include <util/crmessage.h>
+#include <util/functions.h>
+#include <util/language.h>
+#include <util/log.h>
+#include <util/message.h>
+#include <util/nrmessage.h>
+#include <util/xml.h>
+
+/* external libraries */
+#include <cJSON.h>
+
+/* libc includes */
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <limits.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+void json_race(cJSON *json, race *rc) {
+    cJSON *child;
+    if (json->type!=cJSON_Object) {
+        log_error("race %s is not a json object: %d\n", json->string, json->type);
+        return;
+    }
+    for (child=json->child;child;child=child->next) {
+        switch(child->type) {
+        case cJSON_String:
+            if (strcmp(child->string, "damage")==0) {
+                rc->def_damage = _strdup(child->valuestring);
+            }
+            break;
+        case cJSON_Number:
+            if (strcmp(child->string, "magres")==0) {
+                rc->magres = (float)child->valuedouble;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "maxaura")==0) {
+                rc->maxaura = (float)child->valuedouble;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "regaura")==0) {
+                rc->regaura = (float)child->valuedouble;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "speed")==0) {
+                rc->speed = (float)child->valuedouble;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "recruitcost")==0) {
+                rc->recruitcost = child->valueint;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "maintenance")==0) {
+                rc->maintenance = child->valueint;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "weight")==0) {
+                rc->weight = child->valueint;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "capacity")==0) {
+                rc->capacity = child->valueint;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "hp")==0) {
+                rc->hitpoints = child->valueint;
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(child->string, "ac")==0) {
+                rc->armor = child->valueint;
+            }
+            // TODO: studyspeed (orcs only)
+            break;
+        case cJSON_True: {
+            const char *flags[] = {
+                "playerrace", "killpeasants", "scarepeasants",
+                "cansteal", "moverandom", "cannotmove",
+                "learn", "fly", "swim", "walk", "nolearn",
+                "noteach", "horse", "desert",
+                "illusionary", "absorbpeasants", "noheal", 
+                "noweapons", "shapeshift", "", "undead", "dragon",
+                "coastal", "", "cansail", 0
+            };
+            int i;
+            for(i=0;flags[i];++i) {
+                const char * flag = flags[i];
+                if (*flag && strcmp(child->string, flag)==0) {
+                    rc->flags |= (1<<i);
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            break;
+        }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void json_races(cJSON *json) {
+    cJSON *child;
+    if (json->type!=cJSON_Object) {
+        log_error("races is not a json object: %d\n", json->type);
+        return;
+    }
+    for (child=json->child;child;child=child->next) {
+        race * rc = rc_find(child->string);
+        if (!rc) {
+            rc = rc_add(rc_new((const char *)child->string));
+            json_race(child, rc);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void json_config(cJSON *json) {
+    cJSON *child;
+    if (json->type!=cJSON_Object) {
+        log_error("config is not a json object: %d\n", json->type);
+        return;
+    }
+    child = cJSON_GetObjectItem(json, "races");
+    if (child && child->type==cJSON_Object) {
+        json_races(child);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf.h b/src/kernel/jsonconf.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9d0f1467e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf.h
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/* vi: set ts=2:
++-------------------+
+|                   |  Enno Rehling <enno@eressea.de>
+| Eressea PBEM host |  Christian Schlittchen <corwin@amber.kn-bremen.de>
+| (c) 1998 - 2007   |  Katja Zedel <katze@felidae.kn-bremen.de>
+|                   |  Henning Peters <faroul@beyond.kn-bremen.de>
++-------------------+
+
+This program may not be used, modified or distributed
+without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
+*/
+
+#ifndef H_JSONCONF_H
+#define H_JSONCONF_H
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+    struct cJSON;
+    void json_config(struct cJSON *str);
+    
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+#endif
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf_test.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf_test.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9056d3a24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf_test.c
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#include <platform.h>
+#include "types.h"
+#include "jsonconf.h"
+#include "race.h"
+#include <CuTest.h>
+#include <cJSON.h>
+#include <tests.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+static void test_flag(CuTest *tc, const char *name, int flag) {
+    char data[1024];
+    const struct race *rc;
+    cJSON *json;
+    sprintf(data, "{\"races\" : { \"orc\": { \"%s\" : true }}}", name);
+
+    json = cJSON_Parse(data);
+    free_races();
+    json_config(json);
+    rc = rc_find("orc");
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rc);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, flag, rc->flags);
+}
+
+static void test_flags(CuTest *tc) {
+    test_flag(tc, "playerrace", RCF_PLAYERRACE);
+    test_flag(tc, "scarepeasants", RCF_SCAREPEASANTS);
+    test_flag(tc, "cansteal", RCF_CANSTEAL);
+    test_flag(tc, "noheal", RCF_NOHEAL);
+    test_flag(tc, "undead", RCF_UNDEAD);
+    test_flag(tc, "dragon", RCF_DRAGON);
+    test_flag(tc, "fly", RCF_FLY);
+}
+
+static void test_races(CuTest * tc)
+{
+    const char * data = "{\"races\": { \"orc\" : { "
+        "\"damage\" : \"1d4\","
+        "\"magres\" : 1.0,"
+        "\"maxaura\" : 2.0,"
+        "\"regaura\" : 3.0,"
+        "\"speed\" : 4.0,"
+        "\"recruitcost\" : 1,"
+        "\"maintenance\" : 2,"
+        "\"weight\" : 3,"
+        "\"capacity\" : 4,"
+        "\"hp\" : 5,"
+        "\"ac\" : 6"
+        "}}}";
+    cJSON *json = cJSON_Parse(data);
+    const struct race *rc;
+    test_cleanup();
+
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, races);
+    json_config(json);
+
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, races);
+    rc = rc_find("orc");
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rc);
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "1d4", rc->def_damage);
+    CuAssertDblEquals(tc, 1.0, rc->magres, 0.0);
+    CuAssertDblEquals(tc, 2.0, rc->maxaura, 0.0);
+    CuAssertDblEquals(tc, 3.0, rc->regaura, 0.0);
+    CuAssertDblEquals(tc, 4.0, rc->speed, 0.0);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, rc->recruitcost);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, rc->maintenance);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 3, rc->weight);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 4, rc->capacity);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 5, rc->hitpoints);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 6, rc->armor);
+}
+
+CuSuite *get_jsonconf_suite(void)
+{
+    CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_races);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_flags);
+    return suite;
+}
diff --git a/src/kernel/magic_test.c b/src/kernel/magic_test.c
index 910eb27c4..044375d1d 100644
--- a/src/kernel/magic_test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/magic_test.c
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ void test_updatespells(CuTest * tc)
   spellbook *book = 0;
 
   test_cleanup();
-  
+  test_create_race("human");
+
   f = test_create_faction(0);
   sp = create_spell("testspell", 0);
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, sp);
diff --git a/src/kernel/race.c b/src/kernel/race.c
index 43df15f21..5fafd159f 100644
--- a/src/kernel/race.c
+++ b/src/kernel/race.c
@@ -98,6 +98,14 @@ void racelist_insert(struct race_list **rl, const struct race *r)
   *rl = rl2;
 }
 
+void free_races(void) {
+    while (races) {
+        race * rc = races->next;
+        free(races);
+        races =rc;
+    }
+}
+
 race *rc_new(const char *zName)
 {
   char zBuffer[80];
diff --git a/src/kernel/race.h b/src/kernel/race.h
index c6f511d44..ba9ae94ab 100644
--- a/src/kernel/race.h
+++ b/src/kernel/race.h
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ extern "C" {
   extern struct race *rc_new(const char *zName);
   extern int rc_specialdamage(const race *, const race *,
     const struct weapon_type *);
+  void free_races(void);
 
 /* Flags */
 #define RCF_PLAYERRACE     (1<<0)       /* can be played by a player. */
diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index d2d88471c..540f36ee0 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -51,20 +51,6 @@ without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
-static building_type *bt_get_or_create(const char *name)
-{
-  if (name != NULL) {
-    building_type *btype = bt_find(name);
-    if (btype == NULL) {
-      btype = calloc(sizeof(building_type), 1);
-      btype->_name = _strdup(name);
-      bt_register(btype);
-    }
-    return btype;
-  }
-  return NULL;
-}
-
 static void xml_readtext(xmlNodePtr node, struct locale **lang, xmlChar ** text)
 {
   xmlChar *propValue = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "locale");
diff --git a/src/test_eressea.c b/src/test_eressea.c
index 412e1e99b..5c4b815fe 100644
--- a/src/test_eressea.c
+++ b/src/test_eressea.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <util/log.h>
 
 CuSuite *get_tests_suite(void);
+CuSuite *get_jsonconf_suite(void);
 CuSuite *get_json_suite(void);
 CuSuite *get_economy_suite(void);
 CuSuite *get_laws_suite(void);
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ int RunAllTests(void)
   /* self-test */
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_tests_suite());
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_json_suite());
+  CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_jsonconf_suite());
   /* util */
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_base36_suite());
   CuSuiteAddSuite(suite, get_bsdstring_suite());
diff --git a/src/tests.c b/src/tests.c
index 28baa367a..d4dcc7263 100644
--- a/src/tests.c
+++ b/src/tests.c
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ void test_cleanup(void)
   default_locale = 0;
   free_locales();
   free_spells();
+  free_races();
   free_spellbooks();
   free_gamedata();
 }