An Introduction to Religion in China - Essay Example

An Introduction to Religion in China A religion is a community of people who subscribe to common beliefs about a supernatural being who controls everything that happens across the universe. Right from the ancient times, history shows that people have always belonged to certain religions, in which they put faith in the existence of a supreme being. Different communities had different beliefs, thus developing differing attitudes towards religion. This paper looks to demonstrate how the Chinese conception of religion in relation to their beliefs and practices. This paper will also seek to determine whether religion existed in China during pre-modern times and outline what might be at stake when the Chinese are asked these questions. In the ancient times in China, people lived in small villages and towns typically of up to one to one thousand residents. Their exposure to cultural horizons was not far much wide as almost all of them were illiterate. Any chance they had of learning about the tradition in the west or the outside world had to come in the type of songs and speeches in their native language. There is certainly no doubt that the people who lived in the same are all shared common practices and beliefs. However, other Chinese citizens in different locations across China also had their doctrines and practices that varied from others I one way or another. Despite of these differences that developed between these people, all their cultural beliefs were still regarded as Chinese. Vernacular ideologies explain why these cultural beliefs and practices were collectively shared. Similar language, customary laws and equivalent proverbs were also common. This coherence of similar cultural practices summed the Chinese beliefs and practices (DeBary, Lufrano & Chan 76). At around the same period, rituals and operas were performed to help appease the gods. This was the earliest evidence of religion in China. Offering sacrifice to the gods shows that the Chinese developed some sort of faith towards a supreme being, to whom they owed their existence and sustenance of life. This practice also signified a form of communication between them and the gods. Just like in modern day religions, members of a particular religion will relate to God in different ways that that particular religion allows. A European traveler, Father Evariste Hue, who had spent quite a lot of time in China, was able to discern the progress that the Chinese were making. Presentations were still a common occurrence, and different social classes were beginning to emerge. The rich were gradually differentiating themselves from the poor but despite these developing differences, various kinds of rituals still retained their primary role in the symbolic heart of China. According to Hue, temples, family ceremonials and religious processions where springing up with almost the same accuracy as were the different kinds of rituals taking centre stage in china. It is noteworthy that the Chinese embraced religion with almost the same enthusiasm as they valued their beliefs. The Chinese incorporated their beliefs into religion. This is seen when they perform procedure gods. This script execution formed a means of communication between them and their gods (DeBary, Lufrano & Chan 97). Religion existed in China long before they developed ties with the west though it is vital to mention that faith was developed further after China had developed ties with the west. Temples still existed in the pre-modern times. The presence of this temple shows there was some of the worship. Rituals were performed in these temples to communicate with the gods. These gods, the Chinese people believed had some super natural powers over them. This shows that though an inferior form of worship as compared to modern day religion, that the Chinese believed in religion long before meeting civilization from the west. The refining of fire ritual is one excellent example to show further prove to affirm that religion was already in china before civilization. This particular ritual was a ritual whose sole purposes were healing, extortion and protection. It was performed in Shenze village in Zhejiang in every year during the ninth day of the ninth month. Usually, the ceremony began very early into the morning. Consecration of alters where the fire would be built was the first step. Evidence of religion is all over this ritual process. It is done in altars (Edikins 67). Altar is a common name used even in today’s religious circles. During the recitation to the gods in the ritual, the priest asks the absolute ultimate, divided heaven from earth, the light and pure to assemble in Heaven, among other statement within the ritual citation the Chinese believed and practice religion during the pre-modern times. The attack on hell ritual demonstrated the Chinese believe about heaven where they knew their gods believed. An attack on hell shows that they believed in the presence of evil powers that tried to counter the forces of their gods. Hell, where they believed these evil forces resided, was attacked in the attack hell ritual in an attempt to neutralize their forces. Definitely, religion existed in China in pre-modern times (DeBary, Lufrano & Chan 78) Asking the question whether religion existed in China before developing ties with the west is probably poised to raise a question. Co-relating the west with religion in China undermines their right to say that they were civilized before tying themselves with the west. The west is famed for introducing civilization to a nation that still lived in pre-modern times. Most of these countries were third world countries that were beginning to build their economies. In the Modern day, China has expanded its economy and move from being a third world country to almost joining the league of the world’s superpowers (Taylor 24). With such a developed ego of an almost fully developed nation, asking a question that will seem to suggest civilization brought by the west contributed to the growth and development of its economy will most likely raise questions. However, it is the expansion of western civilization that brought China into close contact with the rest of the world. It is also imperative to state the besides the perceived influence of the west on third world economies they can also learn from the East, more specifically China. Works cited Taylor, Rodney L. "Proposition and Praxis: The Dilemma of Neo-Confucian Syncretism". Philosophy of East and West, Vol. 32, No. 2 Apr., 1982 Edikins, Joseph. “Religion in China.” Whitefish, Montana: Kessinger Publishing Company 2007 page 67 DeBary, William Theodore, Lufrano, Richard John & Chan, Wing-tsit. “Sources of Chinese Tradition” New York: Columbia University Press, 1994 Read More