Religions of China

As the high-paced modern world reaches more of China's people, an abundance of the population are again turning to the temples and churches across the country to try and find answers. However, half a century of religious repression is a tough thing to overcome, and though some are looking for spiritual enlightenment, many are just there to pray to be included in the boom.

People come to China for numerous, and diverse reasons, but one that continually pops up is to explore the country's Buddhist and Daoist culture. Should you arrive and find it, please let us here at Lost Laowai know.

What there are an abundance of are a multi-coloured collection of temples subscribing to any number of beliefs that will deliver them to the ultimate enlightenment, the almighty yuan. This may seem a little harsh, especially for those that were banking on adding a physical and tangible element to what has become part of their core spiritual values in the West. Unfortunately, it is more often than not the truth.

Buddhism and Daoism have become quite contemporary ideologies in many English speaking countries in recent years - and rightfully so, as many of the principles in both doctrines speak about concepts that we might all learn something from. However, just as many of the initial ideas and values of Western religions (namely Judeo-Christian beliefs) have been superseded by the modern times in which we live, so too have the values of Siddhartha and Laozi in current-day China.

Let's be clear. China does have a large collection of temples (in old locales, but with wet paint) well populated by monks in yellow robes. To the two-week visitor, this just might be the taste of old-world China they're looking for. But it should be considered that religion was for a long time outright banned in China, and is now only mildly tolerated. What this means is, as long as it doesn't conflict with the current state of affairs in-country it will be allowed to operate. The country wants to grow. It wants to be rich. So long as the monks are helping this ideal along or not creating waves, and the visitors are both giving money in the form of buying "blessed" trinkets and incense, and praying that the coming year will bring them prosperity - all is harmonious.

That said, lets break down the more relevant religions that are generally considered to be 'found' in China: