Chinese folk religion comprises the religion practiced in much of China for thousands of years which included ancestor worship and drew heavily upon concepts and beings within Chinese mythology. It is a constituent part of Chinese traditional religion. Folk religions have been practiced alongside Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism by Chinese people throughout the world for thousands of years. Worship, legends, festivals and various devotions associated with different folk gods and goddesses form an important part of Chinese cul ...

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Chinese traditional religion is a loosely-connected system of practices and beliefs that has been practiced by large segments of the Han Chinese population of China from the early period of Chinese continuing to the present. With the influx of Western cultural influences for several centuries and the complex developments and modernization of the 20th century, the prevalence of Chinese traditional beliefs has declined, but still remain strong, many or most gradually transforming into elements of culture and social b ...

Including:

• Chinese traditional religion - Western views
• Chinese traditional religion - Demographics

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As the French Wikipedia observes, This absence of a proper name, associated with the absence of any canonical literature, have for a long time caused it to be viewed by Westerners in the same way that the cult of the saints [veneration of saints] is viewed that is, as a popularized version of an "authentic" religion. ...

See also:

Chinese traditional religion, Chinese traditional religion - Western views, Chinese traditional religion - Demographics

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The Chinese Rites controversy was a dispute within the Catholic Church in the early 18th century about whether Chinese folk religion rites and offerings to the emperor constituted idolatry or not. Pope Clement XI decided in favor of the Dominicans (who argued that Chinese folk religion and offerings to the emperor were incompatible with Catholicism), which greatly reduced Catholic missionary activity in China. At the time, there was fascination among European intellectuals with Chinese culture, Confucianism, and the Chinese language. Some even pr ...

Including:

• Chinese Rites controversy - Entry into China
• Chinese Rites controversy - The problem
• Chinese Rites controversy - Pope Clement XI's decree
• Chinese Rites controversy - Kangxi's ban

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Life in the People's Republic of China A wide variety of religions have been practiced in China since the beginning of its history. Temples of many different religions dot the landscape of China, including Taoism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk religion. The study of religion in China is complicated by several issues. Because many Chinese belief systems have concepts of a sacred and sometimes spiritual world yet do not invoke a concept of God, classifying a Chinese belief system as either a religion or a philosophy can ...

Including:

• Religion in China - Buddhism
• Religion in China - Taoism
• Religion in China - Islam
• Religion in China - Christianity
• Religion in China - Judaism
• Religion in China - Recent sects
• Religion in China - Falun Gong
• Religion in China - Way of Former Heaven
• Religion in China - Mainland China
• Religion in China - External link

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Ksitigarbha, or Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (地藏菩薩), often known in its Japanese name Jizō (地蔵) or Chinese name Dizang (地藏 Dìzàng), is a popular Mahayana Buddhist Bodhisattva, usually depicted as a monk. The name Jizo or Dizang may be translated as "Earth Treasury", "Earth Store", "Earth Matrix", or "Earth Womb." Statues of Ksitigarbha can be found throughout Japan, especially in cemeteries, since he is believed to be the protector of people condemned to Hell. He is also a ...

Including:

• Ksitigarbha - History
• Ksitigarbha - As Sacred Girl
• Ksitigarbha - Iconography
• Ksitigarbha - Traditional iconography
• Ksitigarbha - Misconceptions
• Ksitigarbha - Popular iconography in Japan
• Ksitigarbha - Akasagarbha

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China listen ▶ (help·info) (Traditional: 中國; Simplified: 中国; Hanyu Pinyin: Zhōngguó; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo) refers to a number of states and cultures that have existed and are viewed as having succeeded one another in continental East Asia, dating back nearly 5,000 years. Modern China has been described as both a single civilization and multiple civilizations, as a single state or multiple states, ...

Including:

• China - Terminology
• China - Zhongguo
• China - China
• China - History
• China - Chinese Pre-history
• China - Political history
• China - Territory
• China - Historical overview
• China - Historical political divisions
• China - Geography and climate
• China - Society
• China - Demographics
• China - Culture
• China - Religion
• China - Arts scholarship and literature
• China - Science and technology
• China - Miscellaneous topics

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Folk religion consists of beliefs, superstitions and cultural practices transmitted from generation to generation. It could be contrasted with the "organized religion" or "historical religion" in which founders, creed, theology and ecclesiastical organizations are present. The term is also applied to the blending of folk practices with those of major religions, so that folk practices amongst people in Christian countries are called Folk Christianity, in Islamic countries "Folk Islam", and so on. The term is also used, es ...

Including:

• Folk religion - Examples

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Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for (a) the Chinese folk religion; (b) a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi ("Orthodox One") or Quanzhen ("Complete Reality") sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han dynasty; and/or (c) academic philosophies or belles lettres based on the texts Daodejing (a ...

Including:

• Taoism - History
• Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE
• Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220
• Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265
• Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589
• Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907
• Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279
• Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367
• Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949
• Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present
• Taoism - Adherents
• Taoism - Beliefs
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Deities
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Practices
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Scriptures
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Symbols
• Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

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Major world religions have been distinguished from minor religions using a variety of methods, though any such division naturally reflects a particular bias, since many adherents of a religion are likely to consider their own faith "major". Two methods are mentioned in this article, number of adherents and the definitions used by classical scholars of religions. For a list of all religions, please see the article list of religions. For a discussion of the relationships between religions, see Religious pluralism Including:

• Major world religions - Defined by population
• Major world religions - All religions or belief systems by number of adherents
• Major world religions - Organized religions by population ranking
• Major world religions - Historic classic view

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Sarawak had been a loosely governed territory under the control of the Brunei Sultanate in the early 19th century. James Brooke (see figure below) became governor of Sarawak on September 24, 1841 and was appointed Rajah by the Sultan of Brunei on August 18, 1842; originally this territory was just the western end of later Sarawak, around Kuching. He ruled Sarawak until his death in 1868. His nephew Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke became Rajah after his death; he was succeeded by his son Charles Vyner Brooke. The territory was greatly expanded ...

See also:

Sarawak, Sarawak - History, Sarawak - Geography, Sarawak - Demographics, Sarawak - Economy

Read more here: » Sarawak: Encyclopedia II - Sarawak - History

Although in later European commentary on China it has continued to be claimed that Confucianism is a "philosophy" and not a "religion" - because it does not conform to the model of western religions, the pope was probably correct in his assessment that the Confucian rituals were indeed in conflict with Christian teaching. As a result, he gave up a very good opportunity to convert a significant part of the Chinese elite to Catholicism. From Decree (papal bull) of Pope Clement XI (1715): The Jesuits claim Chinese terms coul ...

See also:

Chinese Rites controversy, Chinese Rites controversy - Entry into China, Chinese Rites controversy - The problem, Chinese Rites controversy - Pope Clement XI's decree, Chinese Rites controversy - Kangxi's ban

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Main article: Christianity in China Some consider the first entry of Christianity into China was the introduction of Nestorianism spread by European or Middle-Eastern travellers who came to China in AD 635, as documented by the Nestorian Stone in Xi'an. In 1289, Franciscan friars from Europe initiated mission work in China. This mission collapsed in 1368, as the Ming Dynasty abolished Christianity in China. The first Jesuit attempt to reach China was made in 1552 by Francis Xavier, but he died the same year on the ...

See also:

Religion in China, Religion in China - Buddhism, Religion in China - Taoism, Religion in China - Islam, Religion in China - Christianity, Religion in China - Judaism, Religion in China - Recent sects, Religion in China - Falun Gong, Religion in China - Way of Former Heaven, Religion in China - Mainland China, Religion in China - External link

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One way to define a major religion is by the number of current adherents. Population numbers by religion are computed by combination of census reports and population surveys (in countries where religion data is not collected in census, for example USA or France), but results can vary widely depending on the way questions are phrased, the definitions of religion used, and the bias of the agencies or organizations conducting the survey. Informal or unorganized religions are especially difficult to count. Major world religions - ...

See also:

Major world religions, Major world religions - Defined by population, Major world religions - All religions or belief systems by number of adherents, Major world religions - Organized religions by population ranking, Major world religions - Historic classic view

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The history of Ksitigarbha is well described in the Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the most popular Mahayana Buddhist sutras. This sutra was spoken by the Buddha towards the end of his life to the beings of the Trayastrimsa Heaven as a mark of gratitude and remembrance for his beloved mother, Queen Maya. It stated that Ksitigarbha practiced filial piety as a mortal, which eventually led to making great vows to save all sentient beings. < ...

See also:

Ksitigarbha, Ksitigarbha - History, Ksitigarbha - As Sacred Girl, Ksitigarbha - Iconography, Ksitigarbha - Traditional iconography, Ksitigarbha - Misconceptions, Ksitigarbha - Popular iconography in Japan, Ksitigarbha - Akasagarbha

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Depending on how it is defined, Taoism's origins may be traced to the prehistoric Chinese religion; to the composition of the Daodejing (third or fourth century BCE); or to the activity of Zhang Daoling (second century CE). Alternatively, one could argue that "Taoism" as a religious identity only arose later, by way of contrast with the newly-arrived religion of Buddhism, or with the fourth-century codification of the Shangching and Lingbao texts. Taoism - Warring ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - History

China - Zhongguo. China is called Zhongguo in Mandarin Chinese (Simplified: 中国, Traditional: 中國; also romanized as Jhongguo or Chung-kuo), which is usually translated as "Middle Kingdom", but could also be translated as "Central State" or "Central Country". Zhong (中) means "middle" or "center" while guo (国 or 國) means "country," "kingdom," "state," or "land", referring to the claim that China stood at the centre of that society's "known world", s ...

See also:

China, China - Terminology, China - Zhongguo, China - China, China - History, China - Chinese Pre-history, China - Political history, China - Territory, China - Historical overview, China - Historical political divisions, China - Geography and climate, China - Society, China - Demographics, China - Culture, China - Religion, China - Arts scholarship and literature, China - Science and technology, China - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » China: Encyclopedia II - China - Terminology

China - Zhongguo. China is called Zhongguo in Mandarin Chinese (Simplified: 中国, Traditional: 中國; also romanized as Jhongguo or Chung-kuo), which is usually translated as "Middle Kingdom", but could also be translated as "Central State" or "Central Country". Zhong (中) means "middle" or "center" while guo (国 or 國) means "country," "kingdom," "state," or "land", referring to the claim that Chin ...

See also:

China, China - Terminology, China - Zhongguo, China - China, China - History, China - Chinese Pre-history, China - Political history, China - Territory, China - Historical overview, China - Historical political divisions, China - Geography and climate, China - Economy, China - Society, China - Demographics, China - Culture, China - Religion, China - Arts scholarship and literature, China - Science and technology, China - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » China: Encyclopedia II - China - Terminology

The opening chapters of the novel recount the earlier exploits of Sun Wukong, a monkey born from stone and who learns the art of fighting. It culminates in his rebellion against Heaven, when the Gautama Buddha manages to trap him under a mountain for five hundred years. The Bodhisattva Guan Yin, acting on the instructions of the Buddha, goes to Tang China to appoint someone to take the sutras back to the East. Part of the story here also relates to how Xuanzang becomes a monk and comes about being sent on this pilgrimage by the Tang e ...

See also:

Journey to the West, Journey to the West - Synopsis, Journey to the West - Historical Context, Journey to the West - Main Characters, Journey to the West - Sun Wukong, Journey to the West - Notable English-language translations

Read more here: » Journey to the West: Encyclopedia II - Journey to the West - Synopsis

The origins of Taoism and Confucianism are intimately related. The authorship of the Daodejing is traditionally assigned to Laozi, a teacher of Confucius, yet appears to be reacting against Confucian doctrine (suggesting a younger date). The term Dao is by no means exclusively Taoist, but was used in several schools of ancient Chinese philosophy--including Confucianism--to indicate their views on the proper conduct of individuals, the nature of h ...

See also:

Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies