| China has a vast land and a large population; thus a
variety of religions grew and matured in this old nation.
There are now mainly five religions, including Buddhism,
Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and other Christian religions.
Confucianism, a philosophy rather than a religion, surprisingly
ruled China for 2,000 years. There are still other primitive
religions and beliefs followed by some minorities.
Buddhism spread into China during the Han dynasty,
and played an important role in Chinese history and
culture.
Taoism was founded in China during the Han dynasty.
The Chinese philosopher, Lu Xun once said: "China
roots deeply in Taoism. If one wants to comprehend Chinese
history and culture, one must comprehend Taoism first."
Islam arose in China's coastal cities in the Tang dynasty
(618 - 907 AD) and gradually spread to many other areas.
Arab traders who landed on the southern coast of China
established their mosques in great maritime cities like
Guangzhou and Quanzhou. Islam is also an important religion
in China, since the religion of Allah converted many
minority groups like Uygur, Hui and Kazak, etc.
Catholicism was widely embraced in China in the year
635 during the Tang dynasty (618 - 907), but the enthusiasm
soon waned. A historical record of the event was made
on a stone stele which is now display in Xi'an. Later
in the Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368) the religion attempted
a comeback for a short period. In the tenth year of
Wanli reign (1582) in the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644),
the Italian priest Matteo Ricci, was permitted to set
up churches. After the opium war, catholic developed
rapidly in China.
Christianity not of a Catholic or eastern church (i.e.
Presbyterian, Lutheran) was introduced to China during
the 1930s, when there was a large influx of missionaries.
The most famous Christian was probably Dr. Sun Yat-sen,
the father of the Republic of China. Most churches in
China are transplants from Europe.
Islam arrived in China in 652 AD. There are approximately
17 million followers in China, including Hui (Han Moslems),
Uygurs, Kazaks, Kirgiz and Uzbeks. There are two varieties
of Islamic mosques. The ones seen in the northwest of
China are just like the ones in the Middle East. The
other ones look like Chinese temples.
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