A Brief Introductionto Major Religions

in China

Religions in China

Buddhism Taoism Islam Christianity

Buddhism

Origin & FounderDevelopment in China Major Buddha, Bodhisattvas

in BuddhismMajor Concepts of Buddhism

Sakyamuni ,Founder of Buddhism

Time: the 6th century B.C. LuoWei Guo Vishnu of India

( 迦毗罗卫国 ). Founder: Siddhartha Gautama

of the Sakyas

16 got married (a life of luxury)

19 saw all kinds of sufferings

(sth eternal that will not perish)

The symbol of Buddhism

菩提伽耶

29 abandon royal life and start

his spiritual quest (asceticism, exposure to pain, fasting, starvation---failure)

35 Meditation under the Bodhi

tree, in Bodh Gaya, India

(destroy the fetters of mind; liberate from the suffering and rebirth; became an enlightened being)

He attracted a band of followers

and taught the path of awakening

he had discovered, traveling throughout

the northeastern part of the India for 45 years.

80 he died in Kushinagar, India

拘尸那迦

The Development of Buddhism in

China

67 A.D. Eastern Han Dynasty Under the reign of Ming Di India Buddhist monks Buddhist scriptures, statues of Buddha loaded on the white horse

The White Horse Temple

Zen Buddhism Da Mo (forefather)

(Southern Dynasties) Shaolin Temple Meditation It places less emphasis on

scriptures

Tang Dynasty

Buddhism reached its Prime

Xuanzang (Chinese Buddhist monk,

scholar, traveler and translator)

eight sects were formed

Eight Major Sects of Mahayana Buddhism

The Tiantai Sect 天台宗 The Three Sutra Sect 三论宗 The Huayan Sect 华严宗 The Zen Sect 禅宗 The Pure Land Sect 净土宗 The Esoteric Sect 密宗 The Faxiang Sect 法相宗 The Vinaya Sect 律宗

Hinayana Buddhism(Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia

& some ethnic minorities in South China)

Mahayana BuddhismVietnam, Japan, Korea, Mongolia

China (Tibetans, Mongolians and Han people)

Major Concepts

The Four Noble Truths( 四谛，四圣谛 )The Noble Eightfold Path（八正道）

The First Noble Truth----all life is suffering （苦谛） birth is suffering; aging is suffering; illness is

suffering; worry, misery, pain, despair are suffering ; not attaining what one desires is suffering.

The Second Noble Truth---the origin of

suffering （集谛） desire, craving, envy

The Third Noble Truth---follows logically from the Second( 灭谛 )

Cessation of desire and to overcome selfish desire (nirvana)

The Fourth Noble Truth--- ( 道谛 ) To follow Noble Eightfold Path to attain nirvana

Right Knowledge( 正见 )

The right way to view the world; The recognition that life is suffering and the

cause of suffering and that suffering can be overcome;

Right view occurs when we see things simply as they are. Take joy in a simple straight-forward approach to life.

Right Thought ( 正思维 )

To cultivate a mind free from sensuous desire, ill will and cruelty.

Right Speech( 正语 )

To avoid lies, idle talk, abuse, slander, and deceit. Once our intentions are pure---attaining happiness.

Right Behavior( 正业 )

Act or behave in a non-harmful way Include five rules: “Do not kill”, “Do not

steal”, “Do not lie”, “Do not be unchaste”, and “Do not drink intoxicants”.

Right Livelihood( 正命 )

non-harmful livelihood

Right Effort ( 正精进 ) Make efforts to perfect one’s character (excellence)

Right Mindfulness ( 正念 )

Being aware of the present reality within oneself without any craving

Right Meditation ( 正进步 / 正定 )

“When the mind is still, the true nature

of everything is reflected.”

To completely concentrate on a single matter

and to achieve the purity of thought

Christianity

God Trinity Holy Father

(the LORD)

(Jehovah) Holy Son

(Jesus Christ) Holy Spirit

Catholicism Protestantism

Life of Jesus (full of hardships)

preaching, choosing 12 disciples, working miracles, healing, predicting

Holy Bible Old Testament & New Testament (40 authors) God and Jews Jesus & disciples& believers History of Hebrews deeds/letters written by Paul,

Abraham, Isaac Peter/John

Jacob, Joseph final predictions

Moses, David (Revelation)

Solomon

Vocabulary, Proverbs & Idioms

pigeon & olive branch; the lost sheep scapegoat; as patient as Job As curious as Lot’s wife, Joseph’s coat Solomon’s judgment; Tower of Babel Man proposes, but God disposes A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a

downcast spirit dries up the bones.

Major Concepts

Faith in Jesus ----- Salvation (Living God) (conquer death/eternal life) Love Lord and love people as yourself (deeds) Humble oneself before Lord; Gratitude & Praying (difficulties) Follow Lord’s words (studying the Bible) Promises (peace, joy, grace, blessings & eternal life)