I know that China is an officially atheist, communist country. I was wondering is what role do local religions, Buddhism, Daoism and Confucism still play in Chinese life? Several Chinese people that I have met believe in reincarnation, a Buddhist idea. How common is this? Also, what role do new religions, as well as Christianity and Islam play in China?
2006-11-29 04:21:34 · 5 answers · asked by Cybele 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
reincarnation is not a buddhist idea...its a hindu idea. buddhist believes in rebirth.
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(superstitions,) taoism, confucianism & buddhism will always be in every chinese's psyche. communism will never be able to erase it.
-ask any 2nd generation ABC (american born chinese/ australian born chinese), we all agree that fillial piety comes 1st. (evidently, fillial piety is a confucian's virtue).
-folk culture are also running high on every chinese. during chinese new year, the youngs will receive red packet, & pray to gods, with lion/ dragon dance...etc
(that is evidently taoism & folk culture)
- folk religion, like praying to ancestors, burning papers,etc are so closely connected to every chinese family.
- shaolin temples (buddhist)/ wutang (taoist) may see a decline in monks & disciples, but their temples are always full of visitors for prayers.
- death is a BIG issue for every chinese...which funeral you see in chinese are simply buried? it has to go thru' taoist/ buddhist rites 1st.
so, for all the sino- chinese in the mainland, with the relaxation of the religious rules, they may have lost touch with religions, it is never lost. it's gaining momentum...but still, money comes 1st, they are seeking out opportunites to earn money 1st before religions.
nevertheless, like i mentioned, these 3 doctrines are deeply embedded in every chinese, mainland or overseas.
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islam came through to china from the silk road, hence you can see that the communities around the silk road routes are converted to muslims (example xinjiang). it has been in china for over 1500years, but its effects are still limited. the famous muslim in china is still: zheng he.
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christianity/ catholic faith is slowly gaining in popularity. but presently, it is still having its setbacks. i believe the communist country is wary of it, with its association of its revolutionary past.
shanghai was once a populous christian/ catholic city, before the 2nd world war. after that, most christians revoutionaries (pro- democracy) lost & retreated to taiwan.
2006-11-29 04:51:01 · answer #1 · answered by sista! 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
OK it is not exactly American style equality but it is getting there. I just been to China a year back, the lady there are demanding awful lot from there man. I guess man out number woman so things are kind of moving in the right direction. I think China even has a female vice president.
2016-05-23 02:09:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know people in China. Some go to Buddhist temple, if they feel like it. Not many Bible-thumpers or Muslims there, though. China has the fastest-growing economy in the world, and educates most of the world's new scientists and engineers, by far. China has a culture that is 10,000 years old...not 200 like the USA. People there are more polite, more educated and more cooperative, I have noticed.
2006-11-29 04:25:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
You are correct that China is a communist country and therefore they cannot be open with their choices, but it doesn't mean that the other religions you mention don't exist.
2006-11-29 04:43:27 · answer #4 · answered by Steadfast † One 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Buddhism is not a religion, it's a practical philosphy. Buddha is not a god, never claimed to be, and if he knew people would be worshiping his statues and images, he never would have become a teacher.
2006-11-29 04:24:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋