Religion in China

1. Religion in China By: Rose Nah, Michelle H, and Nicole S.

2. Present Condition of Religion •Great diversity of religious beliefs •Major Beliefs –Buddhism –Taoism –Islam –Catholicism –Protestantism •ALL OTHER RELIGIONS ARE CONSIDERED ILLIGAL ** •Chinese constitution states that the Chinese citizens enjoy freedom of religious beliefs –Bans discrimination about religion –In 2005, the State Council passed a new law •The law allowed various religious organizations the power to possess property, publish literature, train and approve clergy and collect donations –Have to be registered with the state –People who deny their own religious belief can get up to two years in jail according to the Chinese criminal law •Over 1000 million followers of various religious faiths •More than 85,000 sites for religious activities •300,000 clergy •Over 3,000 religious organizations •75 religious schools and colleges –Run by religious organizations for training clerical personnel

3. Persistent Beliefs • Confucian state (dominated by Confucian thinking) was generally tolerant of the various religions that contended for the hearts and minds of the people • Peasants saw no contradiction in attending both Buddhist and Taoist worship, nor in incorporating a diversity of gods into the local pantheon • Both religions inspired heterodox religions systems, and their social rebellions lead to state intervention & attempted suppression

4. Confucianism • Kong Zi (551479 BC) came from a family of officials • Restorations of the Way (Dao) of ancient sages • Teachings were related to society and government • Advocated strict conformity • Fostering correct behaviour within context of family  an ordered society • not interested in religion, except insofar • (59 AD) Han dynasty: decreed sacrifice to Confucius • Began to make Confucian philosophy into foundation of Chinese political order • contemporary China • Cult has disappeared • Approach to government & society retains powerful hold

5. Taoism • Native to China • History of more than 1,700 • Now over 1,500 Taoist temples • More than 25,000 Taoist priests and nuns • Rival to Confucianism • Teachings are ascribed to Lao Zi • Reputed author of most influential text • concerned to achieve “immortality’

6. Buddhism • History of 2,000 years in China • Entered in second century AD (Tang dynasty) • 13,000 Buddhist temples • About 200,000 Buddhist monks and nuns • 120,000 lamas and nuns • 1,700 Buddhist • 3,000 temples of Tibetan Buddhism • 10,000 Bhiksu and senior monks • 1,600 Pali Buddhism temples • Very well organized and have led several anti-government activities • Today: important force in some parts of country • Only foreign religion widely accepted in China

7. Islam • Introduced to China in the seventh century AD • Brought by Arab traders • 10 national minorities • Including Hui and Uygur • Total population of 18 million • 30,000 mosques • 40,000 Imams and Akhunds • They are watched very carefully by the government officials • Seeks good relations & non-hui live in sensitive border areas • 15 million Muslims today • Over 7 million Hui (Muslim settlers from the Middle East married Chinese women but retained their distinctive customs) • almost all Chinese Muslims are Sunni • Serious ‘Muslim’ rebellions in North-West (last century) • Responsible for untold loss of life

8. Catholicism • Introduced to China in the seventh century • Was not spread widely until after the Opium War in 1840 • 4 million Catholics • 4,000 clergy • 4,600 churches and meeting houses

9. Protestantism • Brought to china in the early 19th century • Spread widely after the Opium War • 10 million Protestants • 18,00 clergy • 12,000 churches • 25,000 meeting places

10. Christianity • Missionaries arrived overland from Persia • Nestorian Church from foreign communities in larger cities did not survive Tang dynasty • Both Nestorian & Roman Catholic church established, serving Mongols not native Chinese • Arrival of Jesuit Matteo Ricci (1588) made impact on a small group of Chinese • Emperor Kang Xi banned Christianity (1721), but missionaries returned

11. Christian House Churches • Since 1980s, there have been a lot more Christians throughout China • A lot of groups did not register with the state • Did not want to accept the official doctrine • Limits number of people that are allowed to join the church/house group • It’s hard to get into legal churches. • Approximately between 50 million-70million people who do not have state recognition • Chinese officials harassed over 60 house churches in one year • Today: around 10 million • Christian community is free of foreign control & increasingly accepted as religion

12. National Religious Organizations • Buddhist Association of China • Taoist Association of China • Islamic Association of China • Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association • Chinese Catholic Bishops’ College • Three-self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China • China Christian Council • They run their own affairs independently • Set up religious schools • Publish religious classics and periodicals • Run social services

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