Religion in China

Culture and Religion in Modern China Team Qing Deborah Barrau Collette Cator Shannon Steffenson David Steffenson Religion in China • Religion under Communist rule • Official Religion: Atheist • Country is greatly influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism Philosophical Systems and Religions Buddhism ~ 100 Million* Taoism ~ 20 Million Islam ~ 18 Million* Protestant ~ 10 Million* Catholic ~ 4 Million* * Official Figures from U.S. Dept. of State Buddhism arrives in China • From India • 100 Million Chinese • Rituals • • • occasional services practiced rituals supported a temple Buddhism - roots • • • • • • Siddhartha Gautama- prince of Sakya Kingdom Desires=Pain Meditation Eightfold Path Nirvana- merging of spirit with eternal harmony Greater & Lesser Ch'an or Zen Buddhism • • • • • Meditation- transmits spirit One reality School of meditation- Bodhidharma Built on Taoism Northern and Southern Ch'an • Hui-neng (638-713) • One should discover one's own nature, a pure natureenlightenment will follow Taoism • Founded by Lao Zi (Lao-Tse) (551470 B.C.) • Tao-te-Ching ("The Book of the Way") • Approximately 20 million followers • Tao means “the way” • Indicates a way of thought or life • Embodies the harmony of opposites (Yin & Yang) “Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river” Lao Zi History of Taoism • started as a combination of psychology and philosophy • 440 BC, evolved into a religious faith when adopted as a state religion. • 1911,state support for Taoism ended • 1949, Communism reigns • 1966 to 1976, cultural revolution • 1982 to present time, some religious tolerance has been restored Taoist Beliefs • Each believer’s goal is to become one with the Tao • The force that flows through all of life • The Tao surrounds everyone • Taoists seek answers to life’s problems through inner meditation and outer observation • Development of virtue is one's chief task. • The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility. Confucianism • Confucianism is a philosophy of human nature that considers proper human relationships as the basis of society. “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Confucius (K’ung fu-tzu) 551-479 BC Confucianism Timeline • Chou dynasty – time of Confucius • 3rd-7th centuries – marked decline • Sung dynasty – neo-Confucianism – becomes dominant philosophy among educated Chinese • Monarchy overthrown (1911-12) – disintegration of institutions and decline of traditions • Communism (1949) – decline accelerates • Mid-1990’s – modest revival Tenets of Confucianism • Major Teachings: • Ren – humanity, benevolence • the highest Confucian virtue - expressed through the five relations • Yi – righteousness • Li – etiquette and ritual Key Points • Universal Harmony with people and nature • Spiritual Richness of Mankind • Philosophies, Religions, Superstitions greatly influence the culture The End "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." Confucius