Chinese Religion Case Study

    One prominent response to Buddhism as it spread was that it was a good religion that could stand alongside many original Chinese

China has been well-known under the name of “The Land of Three Religions”. The three religions are Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Taoism and Buddhism were wholly Chinese teachings. However, Buddhism was originally from India, but it came to China during the Han dynasty in the 1st century A.D. These three religions accompanied each other. Taoism was given a place on earth, Confucianism was given a place in society and Buddhism was given hope in a future life.

This document or speech was written in China around circa 500 C.E. by an anonymous Chinese scholar. The writings are directed at Buddhist followers and whether they are Indian or Chinese is unknown. The scholar’s purpose for writing this is to ask questions to the followers about major concepts of the Buddhist religion. This person asks simple questions about Buddhism and how it’s the most efficient religion. He/she also examines points of this religion that are flawed or difficult to understand like one not having an heir to their life line. Another question they ask is that if Buddhism is so great how come the great sages of the past never practiced it. The answers for both questions are used to clarify the reasoning behind why Buddhist followers

Buddhism, which originated in India, is one of the most popular religions and has spread to vast regions throughout the world.  Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhism is founded on the fundamental belief that “life is full of suffering caused by desire and that the only way to end this suffering is through enlightenment that enables one to stop the endless sequence of births and deaths.” Throughout history, religions have managed to have a profound influence on societal norms and the individual lives of the people. Religions are prominently diffused through the use of traveling and the spreading of people into new regions. These people bring along with them new ideas, goods and cultural traditions. The teachings of Buddhism was spread

The most predominant religion in China is Buddhism. Buddhism started in China just after the first century. It was widely spread and became the biggest religion in China. Now there are more than 13 thousand Budda temples that are open to the public. There are almost 1 billion people who are Buddhist in the world. Buddhism is China’s oldest religion. 80% of Chinese people are Buddhist. Buddhism has changed and adapted to most cultures, it encountered after it began in the north of India. Mayhona Buddhism is a type of Buddhism in China. Many Buddhists are vegetarian, but the Budda did not prohibit eating meat. Buddhists believers enjoy going meditation. When they meditate you become relaxed.

To most Chinese citizen of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are related to how people think about themselves and society, confuciasim, Taoism and Buddhism are teaching instead of religion. Chinese believe that these teachings are unique trait, which is part of their culture. For instance, Confucianism demonstrates how people should do things in society, Taoism teaches a person how to “act without acting” (wuwei or “action less activity”, “letting-go”, “doing nothing”). While Confucianism and Taoism believe in the doctrine of Buddhism for stance “reincarnation” and their relationship of pre-life, present-life and after life (Fang, 2014).

China is a multi-religious country and has been this way since the ancient civilization. There are recognized religions in China. The first on is Buddhism. This religion dates back 2,000 years ago in China. It was develop further into three sections: the Han, Tibetan, and Southern Buddhism. Buddhism is widely recognized among the people of China. This religion has influence literature, art, and ideology. Today, it is considered an important religion in China. People from all walks of life are converting to Buddhism ranging from regular people to intellectuals. As for Confucianism, it is not a religion, but an ethical and philosophical system derived from Confucius’ thoughts. It plays a huge role in Chinese thinking patterns and teaching methods.

Have you ever wondered about Chinese religions? Just what they are like, or what their cultures include? Well, you are about to find out!

Religion has had a huge impact on China for over 2,000 years. More importantly it has had affected the way the Chinese operate their businesses. There are many different religions in China including Buddhism, Christianity, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and many other folk religions. However, the two most prominent religions are Buddhism and Confucianism. The teachings of both Buddhism and Confucianism promote harmony to achieve inner peace. In Buddhism people are taught that they should observe the local customs and laws, to live in harmony. While in Confucianism, harmony is the basis of the family. Influenced by the two faiths, the Chinese people are calm, united people who have strong and close families and try to

Early Chinese religion belongs to the mythical and prehistoric period. Tradition speaks of the origins of Chinese culture lying in the 3rd millennium BCE with the Hsia dynasty. As of yet no historical evidence has been found for such a dynasty; all references to it are mythical. It is only with the Shang dynasty, which is traditionally dated from 1766 to 1122 BCE, that we find evidence of a developing culture and religious practices. The religion of the Shang was principally characterised by the use of oracle bones for divination and the development of the cult of ancestors. It was believed that the cracks that resulted from burning ox bones or tortoise shells represented messages sent from the gods about a variety of matters such as

Confucian have a great influence in East Asia especially in China. Confucian is proposed by a famous philosopher and Saint Confucius in thousands years ago. Confucian becomes a philosophy, religion and even a way of lifestyle among people in East Asia. “If we were to characterize in one word the Chinese way of life for the last two thousand years, the word could be ‘Confucian’.”(Yao 1) Confucian’s six concepts including ren, virtue, family, harmony, knowledge, action, and ontologies deeply affects people’s thoughts and life in East Asia.

Since the beginning of time the country of China, now known as the People's Republic of China has always been a remarkable civilization from its technologies to its philosophies. It has long been a host to a variety of fused religion/philosophical based traditions. Both the religions of Buddhism and Confucianism make up two of the three Chinese historic teachings. It is from these teachings which have had a significant role in shaping their culture, along with influencing other followers to the distance of the far west. Elements of these two belief systems are often incorporated into the traditional folk religions. For the purpose of this assignment I will briefly explain both of

Those traditions have passed on to my family and society. According to Jandt (2003), Confucian philosophy, which believes in harmony in society through respect to age and social hierarchy, affects Chinese strongly. Confucianism has various effects on Chinese communication. As a Chinese, we value ‘Filial Piety’ and belong to collectivism. I may not say what I really want to mean when I think it would hurt others. Foreigners such as Americans may feel surprised that HongKongers pay attention to family so much. If Americans are asked to take a ‘gap-year’ in which be travelling around and their parents disagree, most of them won’t cancel the trip. For me, I would give up the trip honestly and this may be a main difference between our values towards family. I like the culture I grew up in and the tradition my family has. Respecting elders is what should be appreciated. I would like my generation to keep the culture too; however, we can learn the advantages of other cultures. Individualism allows us to fulfill obligations to self and to be independent. HongKongers can take balance between two cultures and get improvement for our own.

Up until today, the Chinese still embrace their culture, and little westernization has penetrated into the Chinese culture.

Throughout Chinese Dynasties, Buddhism has been responded to in a variety of ways, but most authorities have a negative outlook on Buddhism. Higher classes despise it because its followers have lowered the amount wants and expectations they have in order to find pleasure in life. Thus, people stop expecting themselves to fulfill their ruler’s requirements to live a stress-free life. In addition, Buddhism supports egalitarian beliefs and people of higher classes do not want to be on the same level as the people they consider lower and do not want a negative change in their social lifestyle. On the other hand, people of lower classes instantly liked it once hearing about it. Egalitarian teachings compelled people of lower classes to like Buddhism. Sometimes people who are experiencing hard times and are in grave danger will turn to Buddhism as its teachings alter their focus away from their distress and toward a life of bliss and equality. Alongside both groups of people, some simply tested and questioned Buddhism to determine its qualifications compared to those of Confucianism. Some asked about the beliefs of Buddhism while others listened to Buddhist scholars and made an educated decision for themselves. Authorities and Confucian scholars needed centuries to accept Buddhism, the lower classes were drawn to Buddhism at its arrival, and its values were questioned and evaluated along the way due to its strong contradictions to the existing philosophy, Confucianism.