Chinas Religions Major Religions And Beliefs example essay topic

In China and Japan, there are numerous similarities and differences in their religions. People have their choices of following a certain religion. China is a country with great diversity as well as Japan. Religion is a big deal to many Asians. Chinas religions major religions and beliefs are Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Donga and Protestant. China has about 5.5 million Protestants and 3.5 million Catholics.

Confucianism is one of the major philosophies that concerns human society, social relations, and individual conduct. It is more of a social and ethical philosophy than a religion. Confucianism was adopted as a state religion which was to reorder society. The concept of family is central to Confucianism, generating a high standard for family interaction through mutual respect, love and consideration for the needs of others.

Buddhism originated in India. This is another one of the major world religions. People sit and meditate for many hours then enlightenment comes to the man and becomes the Buddha. The main concept is liberation of the soul to achieve enlightenment. Life is made of suffering because people are tortured by desire.

People overcome desire and enter nirvana, a state of complete freedom. Taoism is truly a Chinese religion which is more individual and mystic and greatly influenced by nature. This is the driving force and all order behind life. It is the power of nature and way of the universe. Taoism is the way to follow to organize life in harmony with nature and the universe.

It inspired a love of nature and an intense affirmation for life- physical health, vitality, longevity, and even immorality. Taoism covers a wide variety of gods, magic ceremonies, powers and sorcery. All the religions are practiced today along with Chinas communist ideology. Confucius had government aspirations. He took to streets offering solicited advice about how to structure government and administration bodies.

The religion became accepted as a state ideology and orthodoxy. The emperor considered the embodiment of Confucian wisdom and virtue. A strong hierarchy became the canon of political rule. Buddhism spilt into several major schools. Many of Japans religions are the same as Chinas such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Many of the beliefs are the same.

Religions do not play a big role in the everyday lives of most Japanesepeople nowadays. The average Japanese just follows the religious rituals at a few ceremonies such as births. Japan's two most important religions are. The two religions co-existed for several centuries and even complemented each other to a certain degree. The feeling of duty to belong to just a single religion as it is widespread among followers of the three large occidental religions, is therefore uncommon in Japan, and many Japanese consider themselves Shinto-Buddhists or marry in a Christian style even though the yare not Christians.

Shinto is the Way of the Gods. This is the native faith of the Japanesepeople, and it is as old as they are. Shinto does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the sutras or the bible. Propaganda and preaching is not common either because Shinto is very deeply rooted in the Japanese people and its traditions. The kami are the objects of worship in Shinto.

They are scared spirits and can take various forms such as natural elements like the sun, mountains, trees, rocks, and the wind, or abstract things like fertility, but also ancestors, national heroes and protectors of family clans. There are no absolutes in Shinto, even though there is more important goddess, the Sun goddess Amaterasu Omi kami whose shrine is at Ise. Shinto is a very optimistic faith. It is thought that all humans are fundamentally good, and that all evil is caused by evil spirits. The purpose of most of the rituals is to avoid evil spirits by purification, offerings and prayers. A written code of ethics and morals does not really exist in Shinto.

The people seek support from Shinto and pray for good fortune and avoid evil spirits especially before special events such as the opening of a business. Several kinds of talismans can be acquired at many shrines against a little offering. A majority of ceremonies are held in Shinto style. Death is considered evil in Shinto and most tasks concerning it are done according to Buddhist rituals. Shinto priests are performing the rituals.

They are private persons who can marry and have children. There are even a few female priests. The priests are usually supported by young ladies (mike) in white kimono. They help the priest at rituals and in other tasks in the shrine.

They must be unmarried and often the priests daughters. Many Buddhists argued that the kami are manifestations of Buddhas. Shinto shrines we reorganized by the communities, while, on the other hand, the emperor performed the imperial Shinto rituals at the court - an important governmental task. Shinto was completely separated from the state and was classified as a normal religion. Today, most of the shrines belong to the Association of Shinto Shrines..