The most widespread religion in China. Religion of China - from ancient China to the present day

China is a country that has given the world various philosophical teachings, a rich and unique culture, and unique religions. This is the greatness of one of the centers of Eastern civilization. The religion of China stands apart from its civilization. Of course, when talking about China, the word “religion” cannot be used in the singular. China is a country where philosophy, culture and public policy are intertwined with religion. Throughout its history, one or another religion, coupled with philosophy, determined the direction of socio-economic and political lines of power.

Which religion had the most influence on the state, culture, society and politics of China is not yet a completely resolved question. Each of the religions or philosophical and moral teachings played its role in history. Still, getting to know them is very interesting. All ancient religions contributed to the formation of a special Chinese civilization, which in turn had an influence on neighboring states: Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Russia.

When it comes to the Middle Kingdom, it is important to consider that some believers may practice several religions at once.

There are three main religious teachings for China:

• Buddhism
• Confucianism
• Taoism

According to various sources, about 40% consider themselves atheists.

Buddhism: the formation of a Chinese tradition

Buddhism, which originated in India in the 5th century BC. e., based on the teachings of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, penetrates China in the 2nd century AD. e., during the reign of Emperor Ming-di. The construction of the first Buddhist temples dates back to this time. It is not surprising that Buddhism has found fertile soil on Chinese soil. The Chinese recognized Buddhism as Taoism. The same principle of non-action, detachment from the real world and self-contemplation. Like a religion ancient China, Buddhism played an extremely important role in the education and humility of people.

The formation of the Chinese tradition of Buddhism is credited to the monk An Shigao, who first translated Buddhist works into Chinese. Thanks to the efforts of Chinese and Indian monks who worked on Buddhist treatises and built datsans, Buddhism is becoming very popular and relevant. As a rule, such religions or philosophical teachings, as well as calls for morality, appear in times of unrest and crisis. So it was in this case, when in the 4th century the Chinese state was experiencing a crisis.

In the 6th century, Buddhism became the dominant religion of China under Emperor Wu. The development of the doctrine underwent changes, but still remained a religion for everyone. The decline of Buddhism has been occurring since the beginning of the 20th century, when China experienced revolutions and the construction of a new state. In the 60s and 70s, Buddhism was banned, and the monks were sent for “re-education”.

Buddhism is one of the main religions for modern China; today about 18% of the population follows this teaching.

Confucianism: or how to become a “noble husband”

Of all the religious and philosophical teachings, Confucianism (or Lun Yu) experienced rise and fall, ascension to the rank of religion and violent persecution by the authorities. Originating in the 5th - 6th centuries BC. e. This teaching, which was initially considered a social and ethical direction, aimed at the formation of a “noble husband”, a devoted servant of the state. Turning to human nature, Confucianism called on the latter to understand heavenly predestination and humanity. Based on the knowledge of the “heavenly” in man, Confucianism acquires religious features, becoming the main religion of the Chinese state. The teachings about the spirit, the innermost and secret, about heaven or the supernatural, determined the religious component of Confucianism.

Confucianism receives its greatest fame and recognition 300 years after the death of the founder. This determined the entire history of China for 2 thousand years. Not a single area, be it culture, politics, economics or social relations, was without the strong influence of the teachings of Confucius.

History dictated its conditions and, naturally, the teaching was subject to changes. Various schools, entire directions appeared, which interpreted Confucius in different ways according to the time. Neo-Confucianism and, most recently, post-Confucianism emerge. With the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Confucianism was completely criticized and replaced by communist ideology.

Today, communist China is considering bringing back the ideas of Confucius. Surely, this will be the right decision, since the moral code of the builder of communism in many respects coincides with the idea of ​​​​a “noble husband”.

According to various sources, approximately 12% of Chinese adhere to Confucianism.

Taoism: an alternative to Confucianism or the basis of life

About 20% of Chinese residents believe in Taoism.

According to historical sources, the founder of Taoism in China was Lao Tzu. There are suggestions that the founder of the teachings of Tao (or Tao Te Ching), which arose in parallel with Confucianism, is Emperor Huangdi. Considering the fact that the Chinese emperors were well acquainted with various philosophical teachings, it can be assumed that Huangdi made some additions or clarifications to the teachings of Tao. This religion found its supporters in China and at one time developed successfully. Again, it is necessary to clarify that Taoism is more of a philosophical and moral teaching than a religion.

Taoism or the "Way of Things" represented man as a part of nature or a microcosm, a substance. Tao is the universal law or absolute, the beginning of everything and the end point. Human happiness lies in the knowledge of Tao. The goal of human life is to understand oneself through contemplation and meditation. It is immersion in one’s “I” that is the meaning of the power of human consciousness.

Taoism became the meaning of the activities of the masses or hermits. From time to time, various ideas arose in Taoism that inspired scientists and politicians, religious leaders and philosophers.

Taoism was supposed to be an alternative to Confucianism. Indeed, in the first case we are talking about internal contemplation, and in the second - service to the state. Based on a historical assessment, Taoism was unable to resist Confucianism with its teachings, since it separated the individual from the world, from society. But still, the merit of the teachings of Tao is an attempt at a deep ascent into the world of consciousness. In this respect, Taoism is similar to the teachings of Buddhism.

Christianity and Islam in China

Christianity entered China during the Tang Dynasty, in the 7th-8th century AD. e. But it became most widespread during the activities of the Catholics (13th century). Then the first Christian communities appeared and the first churches were built. The Orthodox movement appears when the first Russian prisoners appear.

In general, Christianity has not become widespread in China and today there are only 5% of Christians in China.

Islam appears in China in the Middle Ages. The percentage of Muslims in China is no more than 2%.

It should be noted that the 20th century was in many ways a turning point for many religions existing in China. Some were banned and then restored. Christianity and Islam have often been persecuted or at least strictly controlled.

Modern China, despite the declared freedom of conscience, still tries to maintain its traditions in religion, culture and philosophy.

More than half of the inhabitants of modern China consider themselves atheists - an obvious result of the Cultural Revolution. However, the real ones - those who do not believe in any religions, do not celebrate religious ones and do not observe them - include only 15% of the population. For most residents, especially those living on the mainland, religion occupies a significant place in life.

In 1978, the People's Republic of China adopted a constitution that is still relevant today. Its 36th article states that every citizen has the right to freedom of religion. At the same time, they begin to restore destroyed temples, primarily Buddhist and Taoist, this emphasizes which religions are dominant in China. However, we should not forget that along with Buddhism and Taoism, other religions are also developed in the PRC: Confucianism, Islam, Christianity, including Catholicism.

Over the past 20 years, Catholicism has been actively penetrating China - there are now more than 5 million Catholics. During this period, the Bible was published in Chinese; its circulation amounted to 3 million books.

Buddhism in China

Buddhism came to China in the 1st century, during the Han Dynasty. At first this religion was alien local residents, but over time it borrowed some Chinese ideas and by the 9th century was firmly rooted in China. If we talk about which religion is the most popular in China now, it is definitely Buddhism. More than 30% of the population adheres to the Buddhist faith, and this figure is constantly growing.

Buddhism is considered the main religion in China. Over time, not only the number of followers increases, but also the attention of society. Thousands of Buddhist temples, monasteries and schools have been built in the country, all of them are united in the Buddhist Association of China.

Han Buddhism is one of the largest religious movements in the world. There are 8,400 temples built in the PRC, which are home to more than 50,000 monks who adhere to Han Buddhism.

Taoism is a type of Chinese folk religion

Over the course of several centuries, the Chinese have developed a huge number of religious traditions and customs; collectively they are called Chinese folk religion. As a rule, this movement consists of the worship of various natural, clan and national deities: spirits, heroes, dragons and ancestors.

By the 6th century, the largest branch of folk religion, Taoism, had formed; its origins date back to the 2nd century. Basic Taoist thought centers around issues of health, immortality, longevity and natural behavior. Taoists, together with other followers of folk religion in China, account for up to 30% of the total population.

Religion of ancient China

The religion of China has never been similar to any of the spiritual belief systems that prevailed in Europe and the Middle East. Distinctive thinking, the structure of society and even nature have led to the emergence of completely unique forms of belief.

The first mentions related to the ancient Chinese religion date back to the 3rd millennium BC. and represent fortune telling and ancestor worship. Since those distant times, China has gone through several stages of development of religious views, which gave rise to Taoism and Confucianism, which are known to everyone today.

The Roots of Ancient Chinese Beliefs

Recent archaeological excavations carried out near Beijing led to the discovery of a cave with burials. The bodies were laid in a special way towards the upper part of the cave. Scientists concluded from this that already 100-50,000 years ago the Chinese had ideas about the afterlife.

The first primitive religion of China was once based on the way of agricultural life, which contributed to the emergence of religious cults dedicated to natural phenomena and forces. The sky occupied a higher status compared to the earth and included rain and thunder, wind, rivers, mountains and other natural phenomena that were associated with agriculture. This is confirmed by the numerous vessels found by archaeologists, decorated with heavenly symbols. Gradually, phenomena related to heaven became linked to divinity. This fact was noted in ancient manuscripts. The exploits of mythical folk heroes were associated with victory over natural phenomena, which led to the emergence of a prayer cult with a request for protection through an appeal to the ancestors.

Mantika was also widespread, which was a type of fortune telling using a tortoiseshell. The answer from the deity was received through a plate of shell thrown into the fire. The priest studied it after burning and interpreted the cracks that appeared on it.

Ancestor cult is the foundation for the development of classical Chinese beliefs

The cult of ancestors is one of the most famous religious phenomena in the world, but it was in ancient China that it acquired the highest significance, influenced the formation of Chinese ethics and became fundamental to Confucianism. Heaven has always been indifferent to any person. To prove his respect, a person was obliged to put it in the form of impeccable submission to the will of the emperor, who was considered the Son of Heaven and represented him among people. This belief grew into the cult of deified ancestors and became revered by all classes in society. People who were related to the imperial family were respected, since in a way they were in contact with Heaven.

This religion of ancient China reached its peak during the reign of the Shang Dynasty (1384-1111 BC). The excessive superstitiousness of the Chinese forced them to seek advice from their ancestors on any issue that concerned human life (wars, illnesses, funerals). All rituals were carefully controlled, and some were performed by the emperor himself.

Temple for ancestors

The cult is reflected in the belief in the duality of the human soul, which consists of material and spiritual parts. The material soul dies with the body and is buried. Caring for her implied the need to bury devoted servants and part of the accumulated wealth with her. The spiritual soul went to heaven to take a place there in accordance with its earthly status. To support this belief, the Chinese began to build temples where they kept the nameplates of the ancestors of the aristocracy. Such honor allowed noble families to maintain their influence in society and command people of more humble pedigree and common people.

Taoism - the pursuit of perfection

Sculpture of Lao Tzu "Tao Te Ching"

Ethics and the place of man in society led to the birth of Taoism in the 6th century BC. The founder of this religious movement is considered to be Lao Tzu, whose existence has not yet been proven by historians. This religion of China He considers Lao Tzu’s treatise “Tao Te Ching” to be his basic written source. The beliefs are based on worship of the supernatural, and the path of self-improvement will ultimately lead to immortality.

The essence of the life of a follower is to follow the natural path along which all things in the world exist and to which they all submit. This path lies above the level of touch and the ability to comprehend it, but it is this path that gives meaning to all the things that surround a person. Relationships between people and people's attitude towards the world are regulated by moral law. A person is endowed with vital energy, which pushes him to follow the path of Tao.

Thus, the meaning of a person’s life should be the desire to join the Tao through meditation and renunciation of material values. Immortality is the ultimate goal in Tao, which has neither beginning nor end.

Fans of this religion refused food, first reducing the amount of food they consumed and learning to saturate themselves with their own saliva. At this stage of the path, the follower began physical exercises similar to yoga in order to learn to breathe in a new way, that is, to make the process controlled by consciousness and be able to stop and start breathing when needed. The path to immortality also required spiritual purification through good deeds. The requirements had to be fulfilled strictly, and one mistake could undo a person’s achievements.

The aristocracy of China appreciated Taoism and made it the dominant religion during the Middle Ages. This religion of China got along well with Confucianism. Fans of Taoism were not only deeply spiritual people, but also managed to make many scientific discoveries (including the elixir of immortality) and created the doctrine of Feng Shui, the basics of qigong (breathing exercises) and wushu (martial art).

Mount Tai (Shandong Province)

Today in China there are 1,500 temples and monasteries dedicated to Taoism, and more than 25,000 followers of the movement live. Among the most famous natural landmarks associated with Taoism are Mount Tai (Shandong Province) with its famous Jade Emperor Peak and the Yellow Mountains of Huangshan (Anhui Province). The Temple of the Guardian Goddess of the City in Shanghai also belongs to popular places, preaching Tao.

Confucianism - Return to Origins

Confucianism has become an ancient tradition that has permeated the consciousness of the Chinese nation and successfully continues to exist today. Confucius was a real historical figure who lived from 551-479 BC. Times were very difficult for China at that time, the country was falling apart, and the board could not understand what needed to be done to save the situation. Confucius came to the rescue with his ethical and social doctrine, which gained a huge number of fans and turned these views into a new religion.

The principles of Confucianism are set out in two canons (the Pentateuch and the Four Books). The first part consists of a book of fortune telling and magical sayings, the mythological history of China and a little story countries in the period from the 8th to the 5th centuries BC, volumes of ancient songs on the theme of religion and based on classical poetry and a book describing the obligatory rites of a supporter of the doctrine. The second part includes a description of the basic teachings, a book of wise sayings, a treatise on the golden mean, and an exposition of the teachings of Confucius by one of his favorite students.

Humanity (all the positive qualities a person exhibits towards another person) and duty (the obligation that a humane person imposes on himself) were proclaimed as basic principles. In fact, this manifested itself in the form of deep respect for parents, loyalty to the emperor, and loyalty to one's marriage partner.

The main difference between Confucianism and other religions was the strengthening of established traditions instead of creating a new system of values. Ritual and thoroughness in everything became strict requirements for salvation, but a person did not have to give up his usual way of life and sacrifice family and friends.

In the 2nd century BC. Confucianism reached its greatest flourishing, becoming the official religion of China. The religion lost its national status in 1911 when communism came to power.

Chinese Buddhism - a new era of spiritual discovery

Buddhism appeared in China in the 1st century BC, and in the 4th century AD. gained a very strong influence and enveloped the whole country. Buddhism was quickly adapted to Chinese society and divided into three movements: Chinese, Tibetan (Lamaism) and Pali.

His appearance marked some difficulties for adherents of the new faith. Religion of ancient China Before that, I did not imagine the existence of monasticism. This led to Buddhists initially being seen as violators of the most basic cultural and moral norms. Becoming a monk, a person was obliged to change his name and take a vow of celibacy, which was considered the deepest disrespect for his ancestors. In India, it was considered normal to live dependent on alms. In China, this was perceived as disrespectful and lazy. The most difficult obstacle to the spread of Buddhism was the power of the emperor, who was equated with a deity and demanded complete submission even from monks.

But thanks to new ideas and new spiritual experiences, Buddhism managed to gain popularity. His teachings were completely new to the Chinese, who did not know the concept of equality and karma. The country has established a religious system consisting of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.

There are now about 200,000 monks living in China and more than 13,000 monasteries. Among the most famous Buddhist monuments in China are the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai, the Yonghe Temple in Beijing and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an.

Penetration of Islam and Christianity

Dongguan Mosque in Xining (Gansu Province)

In the 7th century AD. Islam found its way to China through Arab and Persian Muslim merchants who came there to trade. The settlement of newcomers and the emergence of Muslim families began to lead to the spread of Islamic ideas in the north-west of the country. The emperor approved the spread of Islam, but refused to accept it himself due to the complexity of the prayer ritual and fasting. But the Chinese themselves reacted favorably to the new religion, giving it the opportunity to take root.

On this moment There are 18 million Muslims living in the country. Popular Muslim attractions include the Great Mosque in Xi'an, the Dongguan Mosque in Xining (Gansu Province), and the Idgar Mosque in Kashgar (Xinjiang Uyghur Region).

Cathedral of St. Ignatius, and in the city of Harbin

Catholicism and other forms of Christianity filled the country on a large scale quite late (19th century). Today, about 7% of the state's population professes some form of Christianity. In Shanghai you can find the famous Cathedral of St. Ignatius, and in Orthodox Church Saint Sophia.

There is no one dominant religious movement in the country. China unites many religious denominations that live together. Every resident has freedom of religion guaranteed by law. Since 1976, full work and functioning of all temples and mosques have been resumed in China.

China has managed to become a country where not only several local, but also world religions coexist peacefully, even though they have different foundations. Chinese religion differs markedly from the general world religion in its principles and diversity.

Local religious faiths (Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism) have radically different characteristics when compared with the religions of Europe, America and the Middle East. Initially they arose as a philosophical movement, not a religion. Their main tasks were human self-development and knowledge of the world, to understand the meaning of life and quickly find a place in society.

The main distinctive feature of the Chinese religion is that there are no such concepts as “God”, “heaven and hell”. Particular attention is paid to ensuring that all faiths coexist peacefully, which is rarely seen in other religions. Local religion allows you to profess several beliefs at once or adhere to elements of rituals of several of them.

Diversity of religions in China

Because China has long been closed to other countries, its religious movements can seem monotonous. In fact, this is not so, because the local population professes up to a dozen world religions. Each city (especially a large one) has its own ethnic groups, its own history of the emergence of local faith, traditions and rituals that are practiced only here.

The religion of modern China is based on the fact that the features of philosophy and religious teachings are very closely intertwined in it. For example, local Confucianism and Taoism are considered religions, but they originated as philosophical teachings.

The main reasons for the influx of foreign religious movements into China

No matter how hard the Chinese try, foreign religious cults have also penetrated the country. The main reasons for this are:

• Migration movements. Many historians agree with the theory that the Chinese people arose as a result of the large migration of different peoples into the territory modern country. It turned out that each nation created its own settlements and your religion. Each nation brought new traditions and rituals, religion, holidays and customs.
• The existence of the Great Silk Road, which originated between the two Chinese rivers Yangtze and Yellow River. This is the largest route of trade destination. People exchanged not only goods, but also ideas and thoughts of their countries, features of faith.
• Processes in politics and history. Previously, China tried to close its territories as much as possible from the influence of any countries, because of this, not much was known about it and it turned into a tasty morsel for some world states. Tribes who wanted to gain part of the territory or at least explore the country tried to introduce their own rules and traditions.
• Direct campaigning. Back in the 8th century AD. People began to appear on Chinese territory who subtly preached the peculiarities of the religions of their countries: Orthodoxy, Islam, Catholicism. Their attempts at propaganda were not always successful, but sometimes the result was new temples, churches, mosques, and sanctuaries.

Which 2 religions are the main ones in China

The faith of modern man has firmly entered into all spheres of life in China. It has an impact on politics, medicine, and economics. Despite the fact that today all religious denominations actively coexist here, there are still 2 main religions in China:

1. Confucianism is a religion in China that originated in the 6th century BC. The discoverer of this religion-philosophy was Confucius, but we should not forget that it was also developed by such thinkers as Sun Tzu and Mencius. The philosophical teachings of these three people were taken as the basis of Confucianism. According to Confucius, relationships should be built at the level: husband-wife, parent-child, friend-friend, ruler-subject, brother-brother.

Confucianism was generally followed even by Confucian officials and was considered an aristocratic religion. According to this religion, every member of society must find his place in society. And today it is relevant in China, since its main dogmas develop loyalty, honesty, humanity and kindness in a person, and teach him to be responsible.

1. Taoism originated in northern China around the same time as Confucianism. The main criteria of the teaching were laid down by Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher. Each province may interpret his teachings differently. To explain the essence of such a religion as Taoism, about 1,500 treatises and books have been published.

Those who adhere to the idea of ​​Taoism must strictly follow its canons. Tao is a kind of matter that exists only in the imagination and is the basis of religious belief. The Tao is based on the following areas of philosophy:

• Feng Shui is a trend that is relevant not only to China, but has managed to spread throughout the world. Its basics are used to improve the home and create a cozy environment. Even famous designers and decorators use it.
• Astrology began to develop at the same time as Western astrology.
• Alchemy is an old teaching aimed at finding the elixir of immortality or turning any materials into gold.
• Breathing exercises – used for meditation. Like Feng Shui, they spread throughout the world and became a well-known trend. Even fitness trainers and instructors use it in their practice.
• Herbal medicine is one of the areas in medicine today that allows you to maintain vitality and serve as a preventive measure for many diseases.
• Martial arts. China is famous for them all over the world.

Those who adhere to this religion believe that souls are immortal and after death the soul simply passes into the general macroworld. Taoism preaches non-interference in the processes that occur in society and nature. It is better to find a way to connect and live in harmony with the world. If you compare this religion with Confucianism, you can find many distinctive characteristics. If in Confucianism a person should serve only the ruler, then according to Taoism, in order to completely merge with the world around him, one must try to become a hermit and learn the laws of meditation. According to Taoism, a person also does not have the right to interfere in what is happening around him. Everything will be as it should be. Those who are interested in this religion should know that it is divided into 2 schools: southern and northern.

What is the religion in China now?

In modern Chinese world The main religions are Taoism and Confucianism. Representatives of other world religions also live peacefully with them. There are many atheists among the older generation. All because of the period when all religions were prohibited and any belief was punished. During the “cultural revolution” the number of people who did not adhere to any religion reached 80%.

The analytical agency conducted a survey among the Chinese, the purpose of which was to find out the percentage of the modern religious composition in the country (in the 21st century).

The following data was obtained:

• 80% of all residents profess Taoism, Confucianism and folk teachings.
• Up to 15% are adherents of Buddhism.
• Up to 4% consider Christianity their religion.
• 2% profess Islam.

Based on the data obtained, we can say that Taoism is considered the main religion.

Attitudes towards religion in China

The real revolution in the religion of the Chinese began in 1949, after the People's Republic of China was proclaimed. At this time, religions were considered a sign of feudalism and were prohibited. Atheism prevailed in the country. After the Cultural Revolution, monasteries, temples and everything connected with religion were actively destroyed. Those who continued to actively believe could be sent into exile or even killed.

Everything became much simpler only after the new Constitution of the PRC was adopted in 1978. It expressed freedom of religion for every citizen. After this, they began to actively restore churches and tried to return church relics. The policy aimed at renewing religion in China can be called successful. Today, dozens of religions successfully exist simultaneously in China; it is a multi-religious country. Different world religions not only exist peacefully, they manage to complement each other. The most popular religions today are traditional Chinese beliefs (Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism). Not long ago Christianity and Islam came here. The White Stone, Moz, and Dunba religions remain in the minority.

The history, culture, religion and traditions of the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire have aroused genuine interest among citizens for centuries. European countries, because original and rich culture this eastern state was so different from the traditions and rules accepted in Western society. The originality and difference between the civilization and worldview of the Chinese from the worldview of the Europeans is especially clearly visible in the comparison of the beliefs of the ancient Chinese and the religions of the tribes whose descendants now inhabit the European part of Eurasia - the Scandinavians, Romans, Chimerians, Scythians, etc. The religion of ancient China is, first of all, philosophy, search for a path in life, absence of complex cults and strict rules and focus on.

Chinese civilization has a history of many thousands of years, in which decline was replaced by prosperity more than once. Beautiful nature, which seems to have been created in order to contemplate its beauty, the class division of society, the tradition of respect for elders, bloody wars, the struggle of dynasties, great discoveries, the development of trade, the need for hard daily work - all these, at first glance, are in no way connected among themselves, factors influenced the formation and development of the philosophy and religion of ancient China.

Religion of the ancient Chinese in the period before the second millennium BC

The ancient Chinese, who lived more than 4 thousand years ago, had beliefs somewhat similar to the beliefs of other ancient tribes. The first beliefs of the Chinese, of which later, were based on totemism, and almost all Chinese tribes had their own totem. The deification of dragons in Chinese mythology and beliefs in the power and protection of these mythical animals, which the Chinese have preserved to this day, take their roots precisely from those ancient times when many Chinese tribes considered the snake to be their totem. Over time, the patron serpent in the minds of the people transformed into a flying serpent - a dragon. The popular one has a similar origin. Chinese legend about the magical fenghuang bird - the transformed totem of the swallow. The dragon and fenghuang in the religion of the ancient Chinese were something like supreme deities: the dragon identified the earth and the masculine principle, and fenghuang the sky and the feminine principle.

According to the Chinese belief, everything around is chaos, in which there are particles of living energy Tsy. There are two types of QY - YIN and YANG, YIN are dark, viscous and heavy particles, they are also the feminine principle and the embodiment of earth and water, and YANG are light and light particles that identify light, sky and the masculine principle. The ancient Chinese considered Heaven to be the progenitor of all life on Earth, but in their opinion, praying to Heaven was pointless - it is indifferent to human affairs. The Chinese also believed that the harmony of YIN and YANG is necessary for human life, and all misfortunes, cataclysms, etc. are consequences of the disharmony of these fundamental energies.

Pantheon of gods of the ancient Chinese

The religion of the ancient Chinese is characterized by such a phenomenon as euhemerization (humanization) of deities. Now no one can say for sure whether the Chinese deities had real prototypes - emperors, warriors, dignitaries and rulers, or whether the belief that gods once lived on earth appeared among the Chinese after they believed in deities . The most famous and revered deities in the religion of the ancient Chinese were:

- Guandi - god of war and wealth, patron of officials;

Zhu Shou - deity of autumn and metals;

Leigong - god of thunder;

Pangu is the first person born as a result of the interaction of the supreme forces of the universe, yin and yang;

Fusi - ruler of heaven;

Nuiva is the ruler of the earth;

Shennong - god of agriculture;

Yudi is the god-emperor of the Universe.

The ancient Chinese built temples to these gods and prayed for protection, but unlike the ancestors of the Europeans, the ancient Chinese were not characterized by fanaticism in faith - there is no evidence in history that the Chinese made sacrifices to their deities or had any complex cults of worship. Since the religion of the ancient Chinese was based on philosophy, the gods in their view were something like helpers, patrons who, like people, obey the laws of the universe.

Three religions of ancient China

In the second millennium BC, the formation of religious and philosophical movements began, and before the beginning of our era, the ancient Chinese had: Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. These three religions have a lot in common - the absence of a deity who requires worship, a philosophical assessment of the world, and most importantly - a focus on self-development and self-improvement of a person.

The second religion of ancient China, which formed around the third century BC and is widespread to this day, is Taoism - religious and philosophical doctrine about the spiritual path of man. The founder of Taoism is considered to be Lao Tzu, who formed the doctrine of Tao - the beginning of all living things and the great path that every person must go through in order to merge with the Universe and become a part of Tao. According to the teaching, this goal can be achieved by not doing evil, adhering to strict moral standards and moderation in one's own desires, and regularly practicing meditation.

The last belief included in the triad of religions of ancient China is the teaching of Kung Fu Tzu - Confucianism . Adherents of this religion, which originated in the fifth century BC, believe that the purpose of every person's life is to do good for other people; humanism, philanthropy, justice, respect for elders - these are the traits that everyone who calls themselves a follower of Confucius should have. Probably, Confucius, when drawing up the dogmas of his teaching, relied on the ancient traditions and faith of his ancestors, because the religious and philosophical movement he founded has some features of the cult of ancestors, the cult of the earth and the veneration of Heaven as the creator of all life on earth.