0Religions in China

China is a muti-religious country with a large number of religious believers. Before the founding of New China, the basic pattern was formed, namely six main religions as the body(Taoism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Christianity (protestant), Confucianism), combining a few other religions and various folk beliefs. The government officially recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism. In the early twenty-first century, there has been an increasing official recognition of Confucianism and Chinese folk religion as part of China’s cultural inheritance.
Basic Facts
In China, all religions are equal and coexist in harmony without religious disputes. Religious and non-religious citizens also respect each other and on good terms. This is because the long-standing Chinese traditional ideology and culture of tolerance and compatibility, as well as the policy on freedom of religious belief formulated and implemented by Chinese government. Religious organizations in China run their own affairs independently and set up religious schools, publish religious classics and periodicals, and run social services according to their own needs. China, like many other countries in the world, practices the principle of separation of religion and education. In national education, students are not allowed to carry out religion education.
In the religious institutions run by religious organizations, the religious profession education is conducted according to the needs of the various religions. The normal teaching activity performed by religious staff in the religious sites or all normal religious activities in believers’ home, such as prayer, chanting, worship, prayer, preaching, etc., which are managed by religious organizations and believers themselves, protected by law and no interference by any other person.
In the long historical development, Chinese religious culture has become a part of traditional Chinese ideology and culture. It is traditional for Chinese religious believers to love their country and religions. The Chinese government supports and encourages the religious community to take an active part in the construction of the country. Every religion advocates serving the society and benefiting the people.
Main features
In the early 50’s, the Chinese communist party made a scientific analysis of religious situation, and put forward the five basic characteristics of Chinese religion: the mass character, the national character, the international character, the complex character and the long-term character. It is the scientific epitomization of combining Marxism with China’s national conditions, as well as the important theory basis of dealing with the problem and making religious policies.
Confucianism
The Confucian is the most influential school of thought in ancient China. It is true to say that Confucianism is a school of philosophy rather than a religion. Confucianism originally referred to the master of ceremonies of the funeral and funeral rites, which was founded by Confucius in the spring and autumn period to maintain Rites of Zhou as the core of the ideological system. Later, it gradually developed as a system of thought centered on enlightenment. It is both a teaching and a set of ritual practices.
Confucians experience the sacred as existing in this world as part of everyday life, most importantly in family and social relations. It focuses on an awareness of Tian (Heaven), and on respect for the gods or spirits through appropriate ritual and sacrifice.
Major Religions
1.Daosism
Taoism, native to China, has a history of more than 1, 700 years. In China, there are more than 9,000 Taoist temples , more than 50,000 priests and nuns, and five Taoist schools. The number of believers is numerous and difficult to count.
Taoism was born in the 2nd century AD, and Tao Te Ching whose authorship has been attributed to Laozi, is considered to be the main Taoist classic. Taoist traditions emphasize living in harmony with the Tao, which means “way”, “path” or “principle” and may also be found in Chinese philosophies and other religions. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, two main branches(Quanzhen Taoism and Zhengyi Taoism) were basically grouped. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Daoism abolished the feudal economy and practiced democratic management. The ancient Taoism entered a new era.
2.Buddhism
Chinese ancient Zhang zhung culture is the origin of world Buddhism.Today, there are still a lot of religious culture relics, temples and monks in Tibet, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Russia and other regions that originated in the Zhang zhung civilization.
It has a history of 2,000 years in China. According to statistics, there are more than 33000 Buddhist monastery in China, and about 200,000 Buddhist monks and nuns. Indian Buddhism was introduced into China around the 1st century AD, which has combined with the culture of Han nationality and southwest minorities, forming the three schools of Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Yunnan Theravada Buddhism. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the feudal privileges of religion and the system of oppression and exploitation were abolished. Chinese Buddhism experienced a renewal.
Since the reform and opening up, Buddhism has developed rapidly. Among them, there are over 3,600 Tibetan Buddhist temples and over 1,700 Southern Buddhist temples. There are about 222,000 clerical personnel in the country, among which 148,000 are Tibetan Buddhist, 1,700 are living Buddhas and 72,000 are Chinese Buddhist. There are 38 Buddhist religious institutions in China and numerous believers.
3.Islam
Islam was founded by Muhammad in the Arabian peninsula in the early 7th century. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Islam was introduced into China by Arab merchants. During the Northern song dynasty, Islam was introduced into the Kashgar region of Xinjiang and spread throughout Xinjiang in the 16th century. By the time of the Ming dynasty, about 10 ethnic minorities had embraced Islam. In the process of development, Islam and the feudal system were combined to form the Jiaofang system and Menhuan system.
After the founding of New China, the Islam in our country carried out the democratic reform. Islam is believed by the masses of 10 ethnic minorities in our country, such as Hui and Uyghur, with a total population of about 22 million. The annual hajj activity is well-organized and well-planned. Since the reform and opening up, nearly 140,000 Muslims have participated in the pilgrimage. And there are over 35,000 mosques, 50,000 imam and mullah, and 10 Islamic Institute in the country.
4.Catholicism
Catholicism was introduced into China intermittently in the seventh century, but it had not spread widely until after the Opium War in 1840. There are more than 15 million Catholics in China, including 7, 000 clergy and 6,000 churches and clubs.
5.Protestantism
Protestantism was introduced into China at the beginning of the 19th century and also widely spread after the Opium War. At present, there are more than 20 million protestants, 37,000 clergies, 25,000 churches, and 30,000 simply equipped activity places.

Keep Reading

Weather and Climate in China
Brief China Facts
Chinese Agricultural Calendar
China Festivals
China Intangible Cultural Heritage
China World Heritage Sites
China Rivers
China Lakes