Spiritual Traditions

Religions and Beliefs of Ancient China

Key Ideas:

-traditional Chinese beliefs focused on spirits and the importance of ancestors.
-Confucianism and Daoism were important philosophies developed during the Zhou dynasty.

Introduction

China had a unique culture due to its geography. Two philosophies developed during the dynasty of the Zhou, Confucianism and Daoism. A philosophy is a set of beliefs about the world and how to live. Confucianism and Daoism influences all aspects of Chinese society. Religious practices, like worshipping certain gods, were connected to these philosophies. We find Confucian and Daoist temples all across China. Before these two philosophies, the Chinese people followed ancient spiritual traditions.

The Chinese believed that the Earth was flat. Heaven was above the earth and many spirits populated both areas.

They viewed heaven as the home of the spirits of the sun, moon, stars, and storms. The spirits of earth lived in hills, rivers, rocks, and seas. They ruled the daily lives of the people. There were good spirits that made the rain fall and crops grow. The evil or harmful ones made it unsafe to walk the roads at night. Loud sounds were used during festivals to ward off the evil spirits.

The ancestors of the Chinese people were the most important spirits. The Chinese believed that their ancestors lived on after death in the spirit world. The ancestors had to be supported and cared for. The ancestors would protect and guide the living who took care of them. Ancestor spirits could also cause trouble for the living. A good relationship was assured by the living honoring their dead.

Spiritual Traditions

The Chinese developed many rituals over the years to honor their ancestors. Shrines with tablets inscribed with ancestor names were common in homes. Food was set out on special occasions to welcome the ancestors home. The gave the ancestors "income" in the afterlife by burning fake "spirit" money. The honoring of the dead is known as ancestor worship. These rituals are performed today at holidays and funerals.

Chinese Rituals