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Religion in China is diverse and most Chinese people are either non-religious or practice a combination of Buddhism and Taoism with a Confucian worldview, which is collectively termed as Chinese folk religion.
- History of Religion in China
- State Atheism and Religious Policies in China
- Confucianism
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Islam
- Folk Religion
- Other Religions in China
- Sources
China’s first religions were ancient forms of animism and shamanism. As the centuries progressed, religion adopted more complex systems of belief and practice. Notably, the Zhou dynasty, which predates the Warring States period in China, saw the manifestation of the Mandate of Heaven, the philosophical belief that legitimized the power of the rulin...
According to recent demographic reports, 52% of Chinese people are religiously unaffiliated, highlighting the official religion of China, atheism. However, there are five state-sanctioned religious affiliations under which all other religious organizations must register. These five religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Isl...
Though not formally recognized as a religion by the Chinese government, Confucianism has had an undeniable impact on Chinese history and culture since its conception by the Chinese philosopher Confucius around 479 BC. The primary goal of Confucianismis to achieve social harmony through the strict observance of rituals and deference to social hierar...
Buddhism is the largest religious organization in China, though only about 18.2% of the population identifies as Buddhist. Buddhism in China is largely of the Mahayana school, though there are minority groups of Theravada Buddhists, mostly concentrated in the southern parts of the country. There are two significant sub-organizations of Mahayana Bud...
European Jesuits are considered to be the first Christians to preach in China, arriving during the 16th century and taking up council with the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. However, some sources indicate groups of Chinese Christians dating back to the 7th century. Today, about 5.1% of the population identifies as Christian, though this number is lik...
About 1.8% of Chinese people identify as Muslim. The majority of Muslims in China are Sunni, and most are ethnic minorities. Uighurand Hui Muslims are the largest Muslim ethnic minorities, but there are also significant numbers of Kazakh Muslims. Muslims in China face strong persecution and religious discrimination as a result of what the Chinese g...
Approximately 21.9% of Chinese people identify as followers of folk religion, also known as Chinese popular religion. Like other religious statistics, this number is likely to be understated, as many Chinese people view traditional practices to be cultural rather than religious. Most followers of folk religion are ethnically Han Chinese. Though fol...
Only about 1% of Chinese people identify as another religion, but this number is difficult to determine considering the legal status of religions in China. These other religions include Falun Gong, Hinduism, Judaism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, and a handful of indigenous faiths. Notably, Falun Gong—a spiritual practice associated with Buddhism and Tao...
Albert, Eleanor. “The State of Religion in China.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 2018.Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom: China. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, 2019.Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook: China. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2019.Johnson, Ian. The Souls of China: the Return of Religion after Mao. Vintage Books, 2018.- Mckenzie Perkins
Aug 30, 2023 · zongjiao (宗教) = religion: The most common Chinese translation of “religion,” zongjiao is usually understood as a form of organized religion. The Chinese government officially recognizes five zongjiao: Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism.
- Reem Nadeem
May 15, 2024 · Summary. The Chinese Communist Party’s nearly 100 million members are required to be atheist, but the party recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Catholicism, Daoism, Islam, and Protestantism....
- Eleanor Albert
Oct 19, 2023 · ARTICLE. Chinese Religions and Philosophies. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were the three main philosophies and religions of ancient China, which have individually and collectively influenced ancient and modern Chinese society. Grades. 5 - 8. Subjects. Religion, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations, World History. Image.
Sep 21, 2023 · Buddhism is the most common religious identity in China, yet few people identify as Buddhist. Just 4% of Chinese adults – or 42 million people – formally identify as Buddhist and only 10% identify with any religion, according to the 2018 Chinese General Social Survey.
The Major Four Official Religions of China: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity. Religion today is growing in diversity and openness to the worldwide context. No religion has ever assumed a dominant position in China.
