[2015] Cole B (Mrs. Gonder 1st Period): Ancient Chinese Religion

85% of Chinese people have religious beliefs or had some religious practices and only 15% of them are real atheists. (The real atheists here refer to those who do not have faith in any religions nor had any activities related to religions or folk customs.) 185 million people believe in Buddhism and 33 million have faith in Christianity and believes in the existence of God. Only 12 million people are Taoists, although more than one hundred million have taken part in Taoism activities before. Thus, it is obvious that the Buddhism has the widest influence. The other major religions are Taoism, Confucianism, Islam and Christianity.("Chinese Religions, Beliefs: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism")

Buddhism

China has been a multi-religion country since the ancient times, although, it is well known that Confucianism is an indigenous religion and is known as the soul of Chinese culture.

Being brought into China 2,000 years ago, Buddhism was gradually widely accepted by most Chinese people and developed into three sections, namely the Han, Tibetan and Southern Buddhism. Buddhism not only brought a different religion, but also brought a different culture to ancient China.("Chinese Religions, Beliefs: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism")

Ancestor Worship

During the reign of the Shang Dynasty, their religeon was centered on ancestor worship, the honoring of ancestors through rituals, such as offoring food to the dead. Treasures found in the kings' tombs show that the Shang believed in a live after death. They also believed that dead ancestors had the power to help or harm the living. ("History Alive! America's Past.")

Citations

Bower, et al. "History Alive! America's Past." History Alive! America's Past. TCI, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015."Ancient Chinese Religion." - China Facts for Kids!! N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015."Chinese Religions, Beliefs: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism." Chinese Religions, Beliefs: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.

Ancient Chinese Religion

Ancient Beliefs

Religious Beliefs in China

In the Shang Dynasty (about 2000 BC), the earliest period we know much about, people in China worshipped a lot of different gods - weather gods and sky gods - and also a higher god who ruled over the other gods, called Shang-Ti.("Ancient Chinese Religion.")

Shang Religion

The Ancient Symble for Confucianism