Chinese Beliefs

Religion in China needs some explaining to a Westerner because in China it is not quite the same concept. In China ’religion’ might be better translated as ‘guiding philosophy’; indeed some have said China has no religion only ethics and it is true that China is unusual for not having a 'national religion' for much of its long history.

Many Chinese follow the traditions of more than one religion without feeling a sense of disloyalty, as different times call for different perspectives. There is a phrase “Three ways to one goal” that aptly describes how someone can follow Buddhism; Daoism and Confucianism at the same time without apparent conflict. Another saying is that “for a hundred people there are a hundred different beliefs”. There is no sense of disloyalty in attending services of different religions all in one day. God is not a concept exclusively ‘owned’ by only one religion, different facets of god are revealed in different religions. The lack of a concept of a ‘One True God’ makes the work of Christian missionaries very difficult. From about the 12th century Daoism and Buddhism became so entangled that it is difficult to distinguish them outside of monasteries. The famous book ‘Journey to the West’ tells the story of how Buddhism came to China but it has many Daoist and mythological elements. The non-absolutist attitude has led to limited religious strife, new ideas have been gradually and peacefully absorbed. Together with the main inter-woven strands of religion are the popular myths and local deities which have no theosophical grounding.

There is a light-hearted story that explains the key differences between the three main religions. A representative of each of the three religions have tasted some rather bitter pickles. The Confucian would say ‘We must more carefully follow the recipe to make better pickles’; the Daoist would say ‘It is fine. They are both sour and bitter, that is the nature of pickles’; while the Buddhist would say ‘It is bitter. Only by resisting the desire for pickles can bitterness be avoided’.

An introduction to Chinese religion can not omit the reverence to the Emperor. The attitude to the Emperor had religious undertones, he was regarded as the ‘Son of Heaven’ and the main conduit to heaven and so the representative of all people and to be universally respected and obeyed. The virtue or otherwise of the Emperor's personal conduct reflected on all his people. This continues to the current day with the President maintaining this paternal responsibility.

One of the remarkable facts about Chinese religion is that there has never been a large scale ‘religious’ war in China. People of different beliefs have been tolerated far more than elsewhere.

It’s difficult to express the attitude in a way a westerner might understand. Somerset Maugham in his book ‘On a Chinese Screen’ comes pretty close:

“She was an old woman, and her face was wizened and deeply lined. In her grey hair three long silver knives formed a fantastic headgear. Her dress of faded blue consisted of a long jacket, worn and patched, and a pair of trousers that reached a little below her calves. Her feet were bare, but on one ankle she wore a silver bangle. It was plain that she was very poor. She was not stout, but squarely built, and in her prime she must have done without effort the heavy work in which her life had been spent. She walked leisurely, with the sedate tread of an elderly woman, and she carried on her arm a basket. She came down to the harbour; it was crowded with painted junks; her eyes rested for a moment curiously on a man who stood on a narrow bamboo raft, fishing with cormorants; and then she set about her business. She put down her basket on the stones of the quay, at the water’s edge, and took from it a red candle. This she lit and fixed in a chink of the stones. Then she took several joss-sticks, held each of them for a moment in the flame of the candle and set them up around it. She took three tiny bowls and filled them with a liquid that she had brought with her in a bottle and placed them neatly in a row. Then from her basket she took rolls of paper cash and paper ”shoes,“ and unravelled them, so that they should burn easily. She made a little bonfire, and when it was well alight she took the three bowls and poured out some of their contents before the smouldering joss-sticks. She bowed herself three times and muttered certain words. She stirred the burning paper so that the flames burned brightly. Then she emptied the bowls on the stones and again bowed three times. No one took the smallest notice of her. She took a few more paper cash from her basket and flung them in the fire. Then without further ado, she took up her basket, and with the same leisurely, rather heavy tread, walked away. The gods were duly propitiated, and like an old peasant woman in France who has satisfactorily done her day’s housekeeping, she went about her business.”

All religion suppressed

During the fervent period of Communism 1965-78 all religions came under attack. Temples and shrines were demolished and the priests banished and persecuted. It has been only in relatively recent times that religion has been tolerated by the authorities. Although there was a freedom to preach religion the party gave out the message that Communism and modern science could explain all things; people adhering to old faiths were pitied and despised. Communism became the one true faith with its own sacred texts and rules, for many at that time the Party replaced the Temple. Since 1980 religion has been tolerated, but only under the strict control and the guidance of the Communist Party.

Our guide to Chinese religion

We have separate sections describe each of the main religions in China. In broad summary Confucianism is more of a set of guiding principles than a religion although Confucius himself is revered; while Daoism is a mixed bag of beliefs and philosophies centered around harmonious living with nature. Buddhism is widely observed and although it came from northern India it has been adapted to Chinese needs. Christianity, now that it has lost its historical colonialist association, is growing in strength particularly in the cities. Islam is strongest in the north-west reflecting its historical roots in Central Asia and Muslims now represent about 2% of the population. Lastly there are the ancient 'folk religions' of China which are a very mixed and often localized set of myths and beliefs, often just a good excuse to hold a local festival. The most important belief system is the veneration of ancestors. We also cover many of the deities of folk religion.

Other Philosophic traditions

Mohism and Legalism were important strands of philosophic thought in the early days of Chinese history.