Page 13 - Mandarin Circle

Chinese Religion, Philosophy and Politics: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism have

left a collective and lasting impression on Chinese culture and tradition. Confucianism
propagated love and rituals signifying respect for society and social hierarchy. Taoism

advocated the controversial philosophy of inaction. Buddhism emphasized on the
requirement to achieve self- emancipation through good deeds.

Ethnic Groups

China is an oversized united multinational state, consisting of 56 ethnic groups. "Han"

Chinese accounts for 91.59% of the Chinese population, and therefore the other 55
groups conjure the remaining 8.41%, per the Fifth National Population Census of

2000. These numerous ethnic groups share China's vast lands but at the identical
time many sleeps in their individual communities. The relationships between the

various ethnic groups are formed over a few years.

Distinct Language

While hundreds of Chinese dialects are spoken across China, a minority language is
not simply a dialect. Rather, it is a language with distinct grammatical and phonological

differences from Chinese. Language families include Sino-Tibetan, Altaic, Indo-

European, Austro-Asiatic, and Austronesian. Twenty-one ethnic minority groups have
unique writing systems.

Chinese Religion

Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are the three major religions in China, although

it is true to say that Confucianism is a school of philosophy rather than a religion.

(a) Buddhism in China

Buddhism is the most important religion in China. It is generally believed that it
was spread to China in 67 A.D during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220) from

Hotan in Xinjiang to Central China. During its development in China, it has had
a profound influence on traditional Chinese culture and thoughts, and has

become one of the most important religions in China at that time.

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