Religion in China

Temple incense in Taichung, Taiwan with Fu Dog behind. A wide variety of religions have been practiced in China since the beginning of its history . Temples of many different religions dot the landscape of China. The most widespread religion of China is Chinese traditional religion and its constituent components, including Taoism , Buddhism , and Chinese folk religion . The study of religion in China is complicated by several issues. Because many Chinese belief systems have concepts of a sacred and sometimes spiritual world yet do not invoke a concept of God , classifying a Chinese belief system as either a religion or a philosophy can be problematic. Thus, some regard Confucianism and Taoism as religions, while others regard them as solely philosophies of life. Secondly, unlike other countries, Chinese belief systems allow for syncretism and it is common to profess a belief in multiple belief systems. It is possible for someone to claim to be a Buddhist while living life according to Taoist principles and participating in ancestor worship rituals. A Buddhist would have no trouble viewing Jesus as a Bodhisattva and incorporating some Christian concepts into Buddhism while the reverse is not necessarily the case. Major belief systems that developed within China include ancestor worship , Chinese folk religion , Confucianism , shamanism , and Taoism . Most Chinese have a conception of heaven and yin and yang . The Chinese have also believed in such practices as astrology , Feng Shui , and geomancy . Historically, the emperor was regarded as the Son of Heaven , and he typically led the imperial court in performing elaborate annual rituals. He was not believed to be a deity , but rather someone who mediated between the forces of heaven and earth. A central idea of the dynastic cycle was that an unjust imperial dynasty that had lapsed into corruption could lose the Mandate of Heaven and be overthrown by a rebellion . Minor religions introduced from abroad include Islam and Christianity .

" Three laughs at Tiger Brook ", Confucianism , Taoism , and Buddhism are one , a litang style painting portraying three men laughing by a river stream, 12th century, Song dynasty . Public worship ceremony at the Temple of Shennong - Yandi , in Suizhou , Hubei . Temple of the Filial Blessing, a place for cultivation of lineage origins , in Wenzhou , Zhejiang . The imposing stupa enshrining the relic of Shakyamuni Buddha 's finger bone, at Famen Temple , a Buddhist complex in Baoji , Shaanxi . A Taoist temple in Shangrao , Jiangxi , dedicated to Dongyue, the god of Mount Tai , one of the Five Great Mountains . China has long been a cradle and host to a variety of the most enduring religio - philosophical traditions of the world. Confucianism and Taoism , plus Buddhism , constitute the " three teachings ", philosophical frameworks which historically have had a significant role in shaping Chinese culture. Elements of these three belief systems are often incorporated into the traditional folk religions . Chinese religions are family-oriented and do not demand exclusive adherence, allowing the practice or belief of several at the same time. Some scholars prefer not to use the term "religion" in reference to belief systems in China, and suggest "cultural practices", "thought systems" or "philosophies" as more appropriate terms. There is debate over what to call religion and who should be called religious in China. The emperors of China claimed the Mandate of Heaven and participated in Chinese religious practices. Since 1949, China has been governed by the Communist Party of China , which, in theory, is an atheist institution and prohibits party members from belonging to a religion. During Mao Zedong 's rule, religious movements were oppressed. Under more recent leaders, religious organisations have been given more autonomy. At the same time, China is considered a nation with a long history of humanist and secularist , this-worldly, thought since the time of Confucius , who stressed shishu or shisu (世俗 "being in the world"), and Hu Shih stated in the 1920s that "China is a country without religion and the Chinese are a people who are not bound by religious superstitions". Presently, the Party formally and institutionally recognises five religions in China: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam , Protestantism , and Catholicism (though despite historic links, the Party enforces a separation of the Chinese Catholic Church from the Roman Catholic Church). In recent years there have been projects of giving a more institutional recognition to Confucianism and the Chinese folk religion. Demographically, the largest group of religious traditions is the Chinese folk religion, which overlaps with Taoism and Confucianism, and describes the worship of the shen 神, a character that signifies the "energies of generation", comprising deities of the natural environment, gods of human groups, heroes and ancestors , and figures from Chinese mythology . Among widespread cults even officially promoted there are those of Mazu (goddess of the seas), Huangdi (divine patriarch of all the Chinese, " Volksgeist " of the Chinese nation), Guandi (god of war and business), Caishen (god of prosperity and richness), Pangu and many others. China has many of the world's tallest statues , including the tallest of all. Most of them represent buddhas and deities and have been built in the 2000s. The world's tallest statue is the Spring Temple Buddha , located in Henan . Recently built in the country are also the world's tallest pagoda in Tianning Temple , and the world's tallest stupa in Famen Temple . Chinese Buddhism developed since the 1st century, and retains its utmost influence in modern China. Scholars have noted that in China there is no clear boundary between religions, especially Buddhism, Taoism and local folk religious practice. According to the most recent demographic analyses , an average 30—80% of the population in China, that is hundreds of millions of people, practice some kinds of Chinese folk religions and Taoism, 10—16% are Buddhists, 2—4% are Christians, and 1—2% are Muslims. In addition to Han people's local religious practices, there are also various ethnic minority groups in China who maintain their traditional autochthone religions. Various sects of indigenous origin gather 2—3% of the population, while Confucianism as a religious self-designation is popular among intellectuals. Significant faiths specifically connected to certain ethnic groups include Tibetan Buddhism and the Islamic religion of the Hui and Uyghur peoples . Christianity in China was introduced two times between the 7th and the 15th centuries, but failed to take root. It was reintroduced in the 16th century by Jesuit missionaries . Protestant missions and later Catholic missionaries expanded the presence of Christianity, which influenced the Taiping Rebellion of the mid 19th century. Under Communism, foreign missionaries were expelled, most churches closed and their schools, hospitals and orphanages seized. During the Cultural Revolution , many priests were imprisoned. After the late 1970s, religious freedoms for Christians improved. Proposition and Praxis: The Dilemma of Neo-Confucian Syncretism . Religion in Global Civil Society . Confucius: The Secular As Sacred . Religion and the State in China: The Limits of Institutionalization . A Drama of the Concepts of Religion: Reflecting on Some of the Issues of "Faith" in Contemporary China . What is Popular Religion? . The Spirits of Chinese Religion . In: Religions of China in Practice . Religion and the State in China: The Limits of Institutionalization . Christianity in China: From the Eighteenth Century to the Present . A Short History of Christianity . A Short History of Christianity . A Short History of Christianity .

Religious beliefs in China This article is about religion in the history of China and religion in the People's Republic of China. Religion in China ( CFPS 2014) Non-religious / Chinese folk religion (including regional deities and ancestors , Confucianism , Taoism , Chinese Buddhism ) (72.0%) Buddhism (16.0%) Other religions, including folk salvationism and Taoist sects (8.00%) Christianity (2.00%) Islam (3.00%) " Three laughs at Tiger Brook ", a Song dynasty (12th century) painting portraying three men representing Confucianism , Taoism (Daoism), and Buddhism laughing together. Public worship ceremony at the Great Temple of Yandi Shennong , in Suizhou , Hubei . The imposing stupa enshrining the relic of Shakyamuni Buddha 's finger bone, at Famen Temple , a Buddhist complex in Baoji , Shaanxi . Temple of Fortune and Longevity, at the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan in Fukang , Changji , Xinjiang . It is an example of Taoist temple that hosts various chapels dedicated to popular gods. Statue of Guanyin (the goddess of mercy) near Nanshan Temple in Sanya , Hainan . The government of China officially espouses state atheism , though Chinese civilization has historically long been a cradle and host to a variety of the most enduring religio - philosophical traditions of the world. Confucianism and Taoism (Daoism), later joined by Buddhism , constitute the " three teachings " that have shaped Chinese culture. There are no clear boundaries between these intertwined religious systems, which do not claim to be exclusive, and elements of each enrich popular or folk religion . The emperors of China claimed the Mandate of Heaven and participated in Chinese religious practices. In the early 20th century, reform-minded officials and intellectuals attacked all religions as "superstitious", and since 1949, China has been governed by the Communist Party of China , an atheist institution that prohibits party members from practicing religion while in office. In the culmination of a series of atheistic and anti-religious campaigns already underway since the late 19th century, the Cultural Revolution against old habits, ideas, customs and culture , lasting from 1966 to 1976, destroyed or forced them underground. Under following leaders, religious organisations were given more autonomy. The government formally recognizes five religions: Buddhism , Taoism , Catholicism , Protestantism , and Islam (though the Chinese Catholic Church is independent of the Catholic Church in Rome ). In the early twenty-first century there has been increasing official recognition of Confucianism and Chinese folk religion as part of China's cultural inheritance . Folk or popular religion, the most widespread system of beliefs and practices, has evolved and adapted since at least the Shang and Zhou dynasties in the second millennium BCE. Fundamental elements of a theology and spiritual explanation for the nature of the universe harken back to this period and were further elaborated in the Axial Age . Basically, Chinese religion involves allegiance to the shen , often translated as "spirits", defining a variety of gods and immortals . These may be deities of the natural environment or ancestral principles of human groups, concepts of civility, culture heroes , many of whom feature in Chinese mythology and history. Confucian philosophy and religious practice began their long evolution during the later Zhou; Taoist institutionalized religions developed by the Han dynasty ; Chinese Buddhism became widely popular by the Tang dynasty , and in response Confucian thinkers developed Neo-Confucian philosophies; and popular movements of salvation and local cults thrived. Christianity and Islam arrived in China in the 7th century. Christianity did not take root until it was reintroduced in the 16th century by Jesuit missionaries . In the early 20th century Christian communities grew, but after 1949, foreign missionaries were expelled, and churches brought under government-controlled institutions. After the late 1970s, religious freedoms for Christians improved and new Chinese groups emerged. Islam has been practiced in Chinese society for 1,400 years. Currently, Muslims are a minority group in China , representing between 0.45% to 1.8% of the total population according to the latest estimates. Though Hui Muslims are the most numerous group, the greatest concentration of Muslims is in Xinjiang , with a significant Uyghur population. China is also often considered a home to humanism and secularism , this-worldly ideologies beginning in the time of Confucius . Because many Han Chinese do not consider their spiritual beliefs and practices to be a "religion" and do not feel that they must practice any one of them exclusively, it is difficult to gather clear and reliable statistics. According to scholarly opinion, "the great majority of China's population of 1.4 billion" takes part in Chinese cosmological religion, its rituals and festivals of the lunar calendar, without belonging to any institutional teaching. National surveys conducted in the early 21st century estimated that some 80% of the population of China, which is more than a billion people, practice some kind of Chinese folk religion; 10–16% are Buddhists; 10% are Taoist; 2.53% are Christians ; and 0.4% are Muslims. Folk religious movements of salvation constitute 2–3% to 13% of the population, while many in the intellectual class adhere to Confucianism as a religious identity. In addition, ethnic minority groups practice distinctive religions, including Tibetan Buddhism , and Islam among the Hui and Uyghur peoples . There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ). The tables also co~ntain the results of CFPS 2012 (sample 20,035) and Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) results for 2006, 2008 and 2010 (samples ~10.000/11,000). Religious Minorities and China . Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations (2nd ed.). A Short History of Christianity . The tables also contain the results of CFPS 2012 (sample 20,035) and Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) results for 2006, 2008 and 2010 (samples ~10.000/11,000).

Religious beliefs in China This article is about religion in the history of China and religion in the People's Republic of China. Religion in China ( CFPS 2016) No religion / Chinese folk religion (73.6%) Buddhism (15.9%) Taoism , folk sects , and other religious organisations, (7.60%) Christianity (2.53%) Islam (0.45%) Three laughs at Tiger Brook , a Song dynasty (12th century) painting portraying three men representing Confucianism , Taoism (Daoism), and Buddhism laughing together Altar to the five officials worshipped inside the Temple of the Five Lords in Haikou , Hainan . The Spring Temple Buddha is a 153 metres (502 ft) statue depicting Vairocana Buddha located in Lushan County, Henan . A Taoist prayer ritual at the Gray Goat Temple ( Qingyang Gong ) in Chengdu , Sichuan . The People's Republic of China is officially an atheist state , but the government formally recognizes five religions: Buddhism , Taoism , Christianity ( Catholicism and Protestantism are recognized separately), and Islam . In the early 21st century, there has been increasing official recognition of Confucianism and Chinese folk religion as part of China's cultural heritage . Chinese civilization has historically long been a cradle and host to a variety of the most enduring religio - philosophical traditions of the world. Confucianism and Taoism (Daoism), later joined by Buddhism, constitute the " three teachings " that have shaped Chinese culture. There are no clear boundaries between these intertwined religious systems, which do not claim to be exclusive, and elements of each enrich popular or folk religion . The emperors of China claimed the Mandate of Heaven and participated in Chinese religious practices. In the early 20th century, reform-minded officials and intellectuals attacked all religions as superstitious; since 1949, China has been governed by the CCP, an officially atheist party that prohibits party members from practicing religion while in office. In the culmination of a series of atheistic and anti-religious campaigns already underway since the late 19th century, the Cultural Revolution against old habits, ideas, customs, and culture , lasting from 1966 to 1976, destroyed or forced them underground. Under subsequent leaders, religious organisations have been given more autonomy. Folk or popular religion, the most widespread system of beliefs and practices, has evolved and adapted since at least the Shang and Zhou dynasties in the second millennium BCE. Fundamental elements of a theology and spiritual explanation for the nature of the universe hark back to this period and were further elaborated in the Axial Age . Basically, Chinese religion involves allegiance to the shen , often translated as "spirits", defining a variety of gods and immortals . These may be deities of the natural environment or ancestral principles of human groups, concepts of civility, culture heroes , many of whom feature in Chinese mythology and history. Confucian philosophy and religious practice began their long evolution during the later Zhou; Taoist institutionalized religions developed by the Han dynasty ; Chinese Buddhism became widely popular by the Tang dynasty , and in response Confucian thinkers developed neo-Confucian philosophies; and popular movements of salvation and local cults thrived. Christianity and Islam arrived in China in the 7th century. Christianity did not take root until it was reintroduced in the 16th century by Jesuit missionaries . In the early 20th century, Christian communities grew. However, after 1949, foreign missionaries were expelled, and churches brought under government-controlled institutions. After the late 1970s, religious freedoms for Christians improved and new Chinese groups emerged. Islam has been practiced in Chinese society for 1,400 years. Currently, Muslims are a minority group in China , representing between 0.45% to 1.8% of the total population according to the latest estimates. Though Hui Muslims are the most numerous group, the greatest concentration of Muslims is in Xinjiang , with a significant Uyghur population. China is also often considered a home to humanism and secularism , with these ideologies beginning to take hold in the area in the time of Confucius . Because many Han Chinese do not consider their spiritual beliefs and practices to be a "religion" and do not feel that they must practice any one of them exclusively, it is difficult to gather clear and reliable statistics. According to scholarly opinion, "the great majority of China's population of 1 billion" takes part in Chinese cosmological religion, its rituals and festivals of the lunar calendar, without belonging to any institutional teaching. National surveys conducted in the early 21st century estimated that some 80% of the population of China, which is more than a billion people, practice some kind of Chinese folk religion; 13–16% are Buddhists; 10% are Taoist; 2.53% are Christians; and 0.83% are Muslims. Folk religious movements of salvation constitute 2–3% to 13% of the population, while many in the intellectual class adhere to Confucianism as a religious identity. In addition, ethnic minority groups practice distinctive religions, including Tibetan Buddhism , and Islam among the Hui and Uyghur peoples . There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ). The tables also contain the results of CFPS 2012 (sample 20,035) and Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) results for 2006, 2008, and 2010 (samples ~10.000/11,000). Religions & Christianity in Today's China . Council on Foreign Relations . Council on Foreign Relations . Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations (2nd ed.). Pew Research Center . 21 September 2023 . A Short History of Christianity . The Times of India .

Religion in China by affiliation ( Pew Research Center 2023) No religion (93.0%) Buddhism (4.00%) Folk beliefs (0.50%) Christianity (1.00%) Islam (1.00%) Other (0.50%) Three laughs at Tiger Brook , a Song dynasty (12th century) painting portraying three men representing Confucianism , Taoism and Buddhism laughing together Altar to the five officials worshipped inside the Temple of the Five Lords in Haikou , Hainan The Spring Temple Buddha is a 153 metres (502 ft) statue depicting Vairocana Buddha located in Lushan County, Henan Shrine dedicated to the worship of Maheśvara ( Shiva ) on Mount Putuo in Zhoushan , Zhejiang 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 . The People's Republic of China is officially an atheist state , but the government formally recognizes five religions: Buddhism , Taoism , Christianity ( Catholicism and Protestantism are recognized separately), and Islam . All religious institutions in the country are required to uphold the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party , implement Xi Jinping Thought , and promote the sinicization of religion. A compilation of statistics from reliable surveys held throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, with an emphasis on the CFPS 2018. Religions & Christianity in Today's China . Chinese Journal of Sociology . 7 (4). Council on Foreign Relations . In the early 21st century, there has been increasing official recognition of Confucianism and Chinese folk religion as part of China's cultural heritage .