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, including Taoism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk religion. Home to one of the worlds oldest and most complex civilizations, China boasts a history rich in over 5,000 years of artistic, philosophical, and political advancement. ... State power within the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is divided among three bodies: the Party, the State, and the Army. ... // Telephone Telephones - main lines in use: 263 million (2003 est. ... Since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, the goal of health programs has been to provide care to every member of the population and to make maximum use of limited health-care personnel, equipment, and financial resources. ... The situation of human rights in the Peoples Republic of China has been criticized by various sources, including other nations - particularly Western democracies - as well as international organizations, as being poor in many respects. ... Continuing to occupy more than half of Chinas population, Rural life in the Peoples Republic of China has a varied range in terms of standard of living and living style. ... Social issues in the Peoples Republic of China in the 21st century are varied. ... China is one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations, with written records dating back 3,500 years. ... The word temple has different meanings in the fields of architecture, religion, geography, anatomy, and education. ... The Chinese character Tao [Way]. Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for (a) the Chinese folk religion; (b) a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi (Orthodox One) or Quanzhen (Complete Reality) sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han... A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found from Sarnath, near Varanasi Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. Buddhism gradually spread from India... Chinese folk religion comprises the religion practiced in much of China for thousands of years which included ancestor worship and drew heavily upon concepts and beings within Chinese mythology. ...

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. Although Taoism clearly developed a religious organization with priests, monks and temples, Confucianism remained chiefly an intellectual pursuit. God is the Supreme Being believed to exist in monotheistic religions as the creator of the Universe. ... These five broad types of question are called analytical or logical, epistemological, ethical, metaphysical, and aesthetic respectively. ... The Chinese character Tao [Way]. Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for (a) the Chinese folk religion; (b) a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi (Orthodox One) or Quanzhen (Complete Reality) sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han... Sage Confucius——孔子 Confucianism (Chinese: 儒家, Pinyin Rújiā, The School of the Scholars; or, less accurately, 孔教 Kŏng jiào, The Religion of Confucius) is an East Asian ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the early Chinese sage Confucius. ...

Secondly, Chinese religions, unlike many Western religions, are not organizations that demand the exclusive adherence of members. Chinese people may visit Buddhist temples while living life according to Taoist principles and participating in local ancestor worship rituals. A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found from Sarnath, near Varanasi Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. Buddhism gradually spread from India... The Chinese character Tao [Way]. Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for (a) the Chinese folk religion; (b) a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi (Orthodox One) or Quanzhen (Complete Reality) sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han... Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ...

Major forms of religion that developed within China include ancestor worship, Chinese folk religion, shamanism, Taoism and the veneration of localized deities. 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. Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ... Chinese folk religion comprises the religion practiced in much of China for thousands of years which included ancestor worship and drew heavily upon concepts and beings within Chinese mythology. ... A shaman doctor of Kyzyl. ... The Chinese character Tao [Way]. Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for (a) the Chinese folk religion; (b) a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi (Orthodox One) or Quanzhen (Complete Reality) sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han... Michelangelos interpretation of Heaven Heaven is an afterlife concept found in many religions or spiritual philosophies. ... Taoists Taijitu The concept of yin and yang (Korean: 음양; Revised: eumyang; McCune-Reischauer: Å­myang; Traditional Chinese: 陰陽; Simplified Chinese: 阴阳; pinyin: ; Vietnamese: Âm-DÆ°Æ¡ng) originates in ancient Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, which describes two primal opposing but complementary forces found in all things in the universe. ... Chinese Astrology (占星術 pinyin: zhàn xÄ«ng shù; 星學 pinyin: xÄ«ngxúe ; 七政四餘 pinyin: qÄ« zhèng sì yú; and 果老星宗 pinyin: gÇ”o lÇŽo xÄ«ng zōng) is related to the Chinese calendar, particularly its 12-year cycle of animals (aka Chinese Zodiac), and the fortune-telling aspects according... Fēng Shuǐ (風水 – literally, wind and water pronounced fung shuway), which may be more than 3000 years old, is the ancient practice of placement to achieve harmony with the environment. ... Geomancy (from the Latin geo, Earth, mancy prophecy) is a method of divination to interpret markings on the ground or how handfuls of dirt land when you toss them. ...

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. The king or wang (王 wang2) was the Chinese head of state from the Zhou to Qin dynasties. ... The king or wang (王 wang2) was the Chinese head of state from the Zhou to Qin dynasties. ... A deity or a god, is a postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. ... According to Chinese political theory, every dynasty goes through the so-called dynastic cycle: A new ruler unites China and founds a new dynasty. ... For the book of this title, see Mandate of Heaven (book) The Mandate of Heaven (天命 Pinyin: Tiānmìng) was a Chinese concept used to support the rule of the kings of the Zhou Dynasty and later the Emperors of China. ... A rebellion is, in the most general sense, a refusal to accept authority. ...

Minority religions introduced from abroad include Islam and Christianity. Islām is described as a dīn, meaning way of life and/or guidance. ... History Main article: History of Christianity See also: Timeline of Christianity The history of Christianity is difficult to extricate from that of the European West (and several other culture-regions) in general. ...

Islam

Main article: Islam in China China is home to a large population of practioners of Islam. ...

Islam was introduced into China via the Silk Road in the 7th century. Islām is described as a dīn, meaning way of life and/or guidance. ... The Silk Road (Traditional Chinese: 絲綢之路; Simplified Chinese: 丝绸之路; pinyin: sī chóu zhī lù, Persian راه ابریشم Râh-e Abrisham) was an interconnected series of routes through Southern Asia traversed by caravan and ocean vessel, and connecting Changan (todays Xian), China, with Antioch, Syria, as well as other points. ...

It is now practised by a estimated 3% to 5% of Chinese, predominantly such minority groups as the Hui, the Uyghurs, and the Kazakhs. These make up majorities in Ningxia and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions. Islam in China, particularly in the western, minority-dominated regions, can be connected with non-Chinese nationalism and even separatist movements. Other estimates of Muslim population are much higher with claims of 10 - 13% of the total population. The Peoples Republic of China officially describes itself as a multinational unitary state and as such officially recognizes 56 nationalities or Mínzú (民族), within China: the Han being the majority (>92%), and the remaining 55 nationalities being the national minorities. ... The Hui people (Chinese: 回族; pinyin: ) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of the Islamic religion. ... The Uyghur (also called Uighur, Uygur, or Uigur) [pronounced WEE-gurs] (Simplified Chinese: 维吾尔; Traditional Chinese: 維吾爾; pinyin: ) are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group living in northwestern China (mainly in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where they are the largest ethnic group together with Han people), Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Russia. ... Kazakh may refer to An ethnic group: the Kazakhs The Kazakh language The Culture of Kazakhstan Suhbat. ... Ningxia (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ning-hsia; Postal Pinyin: Ningsia) is an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China, located on the northwest loess highland, the Yellow River flows through a vast area of its land. ... Xinjiang (Chinese: æ–°ç–†; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hsin1-chiang1; Postal Pinyin: Sinkiang; literal meaning: New Frontier; Uyghur: (Shinjang)), full name Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... An autonomous region or autonomous district is a subnational region with special powers of self-rule. ...

A few zealous Chinese Christians have started an effort to try and convert Chinese Muslims to Christianity, which turned out to be very unfruitful.

Christianity

Main article: Christianity in China Christianity in China has developed since at least the 7th century CE. The introduction of Nestorianism, a Christian sect, around 635 is considered by some to be the first entry of the Christian religion into China. ...

Some consider the first entry of Christianity into China was the introduction of Nestorianism spread by European or Middle-Eastern travellers who came to China in AD 635, as documented by the Nestorian Stone in Xi'an. History Main article: History of Christianity See also: Timeline of Christianity The history of Christianity is difficult to extricate from that of the European West (and several other culture-regions) in general. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May - Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths Categories: 635 ... The Nestorian Stele, Nestorian Stone, formally the Memorial of the Propagation in China of the Luminous Religion from Daqin (大秦景教流行中國碑 Pinyin: Dàqín Jǐngjiào liúxíng Zhōngguó béi, abbreviated 大秦景教碑) is a Tang Chinese stele erected in 781 which celebrates the accomplishments of the Assyrian Church of the East in China, which... City nickname: Changan Location Location of Xian Government City Shaanxi Mayor Sun Qingyun Physical characteristics Area      Land      Water 9,983 km²      9,983 km²      0. ...

In 1289, Franciscan friars from Europe initiated mission work in China. This mission collapsed in 1368, as the Ming Dynasty abolished Christianity in China. For broader historical context, see 1280s and 13th century. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... Events Timur ascends throne of Samarkand. ... Ming Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. ...

The first Jesuit attempt to reach China was made in 1552 by Francis Xavier, but he died the same year on the Chinese island of Shangchuan, without having reached the mainland. In 1582, Jesuits once again initiated mission work in China, introducing Western science, mathematics, and astronomy. One of these missionaries was Matteo Ricci. The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Events April - War between Henry II of France and Emperor Charles V. Henry invades Lorraine and captures Toul, Metz, and Verdun. ... Memorial to St. ... Shangchuan Island (上川镇, Schangschwan, Sancian, Chang-Chuang, St. ... Events January 15 - Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to Poland February 24 - Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. ... Matteo Ricci Matteo Ricci (Macerata, October 6, 1552 - Peking, May 11, 1610) (Chinese: 利瑪竇; pinyin: Lì MÇŽdòu) was an Italian Jesuit priest whose missionary activity in China during the Ming Dynasty marked the beginning of modern Chinese Christianity. ...

In the early 18th century, the Chinese Rites controversy, a dispute within the Catholic Church, arose over whether Chinese folk religion rituals and offerings to the emperor constituted idolatry. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... The Chinese Rites controversy was a dispute within the Catholic Church in the early 18th century about whether Chinese folk religion rites and offerings to the emperor constituted idolatry or not. ... The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ... Idolatry is a term used by many religions to describe the worship of a false deity, which is an affront to their understanding of divinity. ...

During the 1840s, Western missionaries spread Christianity rapidly through the foreign occupied coastal cities; the Taiping Rebellion was connected in its origins to the missionary activity. British and American denominations, such as the British Methodist Church, continued to send missionaries until they were prevented from doing so following the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Protestant missionaries played an extremely important role in introducing knowledge of China to the United States and the United States to China. The book The Small Woman and film Inn of the Sixth Happiness tell the story of one such missionary, Gladys Aylward. // Events and Trends Technology First use of anaesthesia in an operation, by Crawford Long War, peace and politics First signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi New Zealand. ... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ... The Taiping Rebellion (1851–1864) was one of the bloodiest conflicts in history, a clash between the forces of Imperial China and those inspired by a Hakka self-proclaimed mystic named Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全), who was also a Christian convert who had claimed that he was the new... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is a 1958 film based on the true story of Gladys Aylward, a tenacious United Kingdom maid, who became a missionary in China during the tumultuous years leading up to World War II. Directed by Mark Robson, the film stars Ingrid Bergman as Aylword... Gladys Aylward was the British missionary worker whose story was made into the Hollywood film, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman. ...

Since loosening of restrictions on religion after the 1970s, Christianity has grown significantly within the People's Republic. It is still, however, tightly controlled by government authorities. The Three-Self Patriotic Movement and China Christian Council (Protestant) and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, which has disavowed the Pope and is considered schismatic by other Roman Catholics, have affiliations with government and must follow the regulations imposed upon them. Many Christians choose however to meet independently of these organisations, typically in house churches. These fellowships are not officially registered and are seen as illegal entities and are often persecuted heavily. For this reason some meetings take place underground, coining the term "underground church". These Christians have been persecuted throughout the 20th century, especially during the Cultural Revolution, and there remains some official harassment in the form of arrests and interrogations of Chinese Christians. At the same time, there has been increasing tolerance of house churches since the late 1970s. The Three-Self Patriotic Movement (officially 中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会, China Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee; colloquially 三自教会, the Three-Self Church) and the China Christian Council (中国基督教协会) are two pro-government (patriotic) Christian organizations in the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Three-Self Patriotic Movement (officially 中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会, China Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee; colloquially 三自教会, the Three-Self Church) and the China Christian Council (中国基督教协会) are two pro-government (patriotic) Christian organizations in the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (中国天主教爱国会; designated variously as CPA, CPCA, or CCPA) is the organizational body of Catholics in China as officially recognized by the government of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The pope is the Catholic Patriarch and Bishop of Rome, and leader of the Catholic Church. ... Chinese house churches are unregistered Christian churches in the Peoples Republic of China, which operate independently of the government_run Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and China Christian Council (CCC) for Protestant groups and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CCPA) and the Chinese Catholic Bishops Council (CCBC) for Catholics. ... A poster during the Cultural Revolution. ...

Chinese Christian Brother Yun's book "The Heavenly Man" achieved the Christian Book of the Year award in 2003. The book describes Yun's life from his call to preach the gospel across China and the enlargement of the house church movement. Brother Yun A.K.A Liu Zhenying (born 1958) is a Chinese preacher and evangelist whose life has been marked by both hardships and apparent miracles through his intense desire to reach China with the gospel throughout the late 20th century. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Estimates of Christians in China are difficult to obtain because of the numbers of Christians unwilling to reveal their beliefs, the hostility of the national government towards some Christian sects, and difficulties in obtaining accurate statistics on house churches.

See also: Protestantism in China, Catholicism in China, Chinese house church and Persecution of Christians. Protestant Christianity entered China in the early 19th century. ... Catholicism in China has a long and complicated history. ... Chinese house churches are unregistered Christian churches in the Peoples Republic of China, which operate independently of the government_run Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and China Christian Council (CCC) for Protestant groups and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CCPA) and the Chinese Catholic Bishops Council (CCBC) for Catholics. ... Many Christians have experienced persecution from both non-Christians and from other Christians during the history of Christianity. ...

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in China // Difference between Hinduism and Buhddism Though both beliefs originated in India and are commonly associated with each other, essentially the two beliefs are still different. ...

As most Hindus are centered around India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, few Hindus live within China (please note that Hinduism and Buddhism are different beliefs even though very similar). However, Hinduism has played a major role in the Tibetan Buddhist society, mostly resulting from the increase of Tibetan refugees (including that of the Dalai Lama) in India after the Republic of China's occupation of Tibet to prevent Tibet from successfully declaring independence. Such examples include the practice of martial arts (which was said to have originated among the fighting styles of anchient Hindu warriors), the belief in "six schools" or "six doctrines", the use of pagodas, as well as the practice of yoga. The 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935) The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933) In Tibetan Buddhism, the successive Dalai Lamas (taa-lai bla-ma) form a tulku lineage of Gelugpa leaders which trace back to 1391. ... The Republic of China (Traditional Chinese: 中華民國; Simplified Chinese: 中华民国, Wades-Giles: Chung¹-hua² Min²-kuo², Tongyong Pinyin: JhongHuá MínGuó, Hanyu Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó, Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tiong-hoâ Bîn-kok) is the state that currently exercises sovereignty... Tibet (older spelling Thibet; Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: 西藏, pinyin: Xīzàng or 藏区 Zàngqū [the two names are used with different connotations; see Names section below]) is a region in Central Asia and the home of the... Tibet (older spelling Thibet; Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: 西藏, pinyin: Xīzàng or 藏区 Zàngqū [the two names are used with different connotations; see Names section below]) is a region in Central Asia and the home of the...

Judaism

Main article: Judaism in China Jews in China have historically been divided into several populations of Chinese Jews. ...

During the Tang Dynasty (7-10 cent. CE) or earlier, small groups of Jews settled in China. The most prominent early community was at Kaifeng, in Henan province. (see Kaifeng Jews) In the 20th century, many Jews arrived in Hong Kong and Shanghai during those cities' periods of economic expansion in the first decades of the century, as well as for the purpose of seeking refuge from the Holocaust in Western Europe. Shanghai was particularly notable for its volume of Jewish refugees, most of whom left after the war, the rest relocating prior to or immediately after the establishment of the People's Republic. Today, the Kaifeng Jewish community is functionally extinct. Many descendants of the Kaifeng community still live among the Chinese population, mostly unaware of their Jewish ancestry. Meanwhile, remnants of the later arrivals maintain communities in Shanghai and Hong Kong. In recent years a community has also developed in Beijing. Also the name of a rock band. ... Kaifeng (Simplified Chinese: 开封; Traditional Chinese: 開封; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Kai-feng), formerly known as Bianliang (汴梁), is a prefecture-level city in eastern Henan province, Peoples Republic of China. ... Henan (Chinese: 河南; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ho-nan), is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. ... This article is about political regions. ... The Kaifeng Jews comprise the best documented Jewish community in China. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Shanghai (Chinese: 上海; pinyin: ; Shanghainese IPA: ; Lumazi: Zanhe) , situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, is Chinas largest city. ... Children survivors of the Holocaust before their liberation The Holocaust is the name applied to the systematic state-sponsored persecution and genocide of various ethnic, religious and political groups during World War II by Nazi Germany and collaborators. ... Western Europe is distinguished from Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ... PRC is a common abbreviation for: Peoples Republic of China Palestinian Red Crescent Popular Resistance Committees This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

More recently, since the late 20th century, along with the study of religion in general, the study of Judaism and Jews in China as an academic subject has begun to blossom.

Two of the best-known international immigrants in the history of the PRC, Israel Epstein and Sidney Shapiro, were Jewish. Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ... PRC is a common abbreviation for: Peoples Republic of China Palestinian Red Crescent Popular Resistance Committees This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... CCP Chairman Mao Zedong with Israel Epstein (first left), Anna Louise Strong (third left), Frank Coe (second right), and Solomon Adler (first right). ... Sidney Shapiro is an American-born Chinese citizen who has lived in China since 1947. ...

Recent sects

Falun Gong

Main article: Falun Gong Falun emblem. ...

Way of Former Heaven

Main article: Way of Former Heaven The Way of Former Heaven, or Hsien-tien tao (先天道) encompasses five religious groups of Chinese origin. ...

1. I-Kuan Tao ("Way of Unity")
2. T'ung-shan She ("Society of Goodness")
3. Tien-te Sheng-chiao ("Sacred Religion of Celestial Virtue")
4. Tao-yuan ("Sanctuary of the Tao")
5. Tz'u-hui Tang ("Compassion Society")

I Kuan-Tao emblem I-Kuan Tao, also Yi Guan Dao, or usually initialized as IKT (一貫道, translated as the Unity Sect) is a new religious movement that originated in twentieth-century China. ... Tung-shan She (同善社, literally Society of Goodness) is a religious group that is one of the Way of Former Heaven sects. ... Tien-te Sheng-chiao (天德聖教, literally Sacred Religion of the Celestial Virtue) is a religious group that is one of the Way of former Heaven Sects. ... Taoyuan is names of places in China which are following: Taoyuan (桃园市、桃園市，pinyin:táo yuán shì) is a city located in Taiwan, see Taoyuan City Taoyuan (桃园县、桃園縣，pinyin:táo yuán xiàn) is a county in Taiwan, see Taoyuan County (Taiwan) Taoyuan (桃源县、桃源縣，pinyin:táo yuán xiàn) is... Tzu-hui Tang (慈惠堂, literally Compassion Society) is a religious group that is one of the Way of former Heaven Sects. ...

Mainland China

The People's Republic of China was established in 1949 and for much of its early history maintained a hostile attitude toward religion which was seen as emblematic of feudalism and foreign colonialism. Houses of worship, including temples, mosques, and churches, were converted into non-religious buildings for secular use. In the early years of the People's Republic, religious belief or practice was often discouraged because it was regarded by the government as backwards and superstitious and because some Communist leaders, ranging from Vladimir Lenin to Mao Zedong, had been critical of religious institutions. During the Cultural Revolution, religion was condemned as feudalistic and thousands of religious buildings were looted and destroyed. 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Defining feudalism requires many qualifiers because there is no broadly accepted agreement of what it means. ... Bold textItalic text World map of colonialism at the end of the Second World War in 1945. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Russian: Влади́мир Ильи́ч Ле́нин listen ▶(?)), original surname Ulyanov (Улья́нов) (April 22 (April 10 (O.S.)), 1870 – January 21, 1924), was a Russian revolutionary, the leader... ▶(?) (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976; Mao Tse-tung in Wade-Giles) was the chairman of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 1943 and the chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from 1945 until his death. ... A poster during the Cultural Revolution. ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ...

This attitude, however, relaxed considerably in the late 1970s, with the end of the Cultural Revolution. The 1978 Constitution of the People's Republic of China guarantees freedom of religion with a number of restrictions. In practice, the Communist Party of China will react harshly against groups such as Falun Gong which it perceives as challenging its authority while in general ignoring groups that are not seen as challenging the state. Since the mid-1990s there has been a massive program to rebuild Buddhist temples that were destroyed in the Cultural Revolution. The 1970s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1970 and 1979. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... The Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China (中华人民共和国宪法; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Xiànfǎ) is the highest law within the Peoples Republic of China. ... Communist Party of China flag The Communist Party of China (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; pinyin: ) is the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Falun emblem. ...

The Communist Party has said that religious belief and membership are incompatible. Party membership is a necessity for many high level careers and posts. That along with other official hostility makes statistical reporting on religious membership difficult. There are five recognized religions by the state, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholic Christianity, and Protestant Christianity.

Most people report no organized religious affiliation; however, belief in folk traditions and non-religious spiritual beliefs, such as ancestor worship and feng shui, along with informal ties to local temples and unofficial house churches is in the hundreds of millions. The United States Department of State, in its annual report on International Religious Freedom [1], gives possibly the most reliable statistics about organized religions. In 2004 it reports the following: Fēng Shuǐ (風水 – literally, wind and water pronounced fung shuway), which may be more than 3000 years old, is the ancient practice of placement to achieve harmony with the environment. ...

• Buddhists 8%, with more than 200,000 monks and nuns. This value is seen as extremely low because the more than 16,000 Buddhist temples do not maintain traditional congregations.
• Taoists, unknown as a percentage, there are more than 25,000 Taoist monks and nuns at more than 1,500 temples. Taoist belief is often intertwined with both Buddhism and traditional folk religions.
• Muslims, 1.4%, with more than 45,000 Imams. Other estimates are much higher.
• Protestant Christians, 1.5% with official churches. It is estimated another 2.5% of the population is a Protestant Christian worshipping through an unofficial house church.
• Catholic Christians, 0.8% with official churches, and the Vatican claims another 1.2% are Catholics that attend Catholic services at underground churches.

The People's Republic of China remains an officially atheist state, as reported by the CIA Factbook [2]. Imam is an Arabic word meaning Leader. The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. ... For information about the band, see Atheist (band). ...

External link

• http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35396.htm - United States Department of State 2004 International Religious Freedom Report on China, including supplements on Hong Kong and Macau