The history of religious life in China extends back to ancient times, when various primitive animistic beliefs were the primary form of spiritual expression. During the period of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE), the Chinese people developed a polytheistic religion based on veneration of Heaven and ancestor worship. This belief system was further refined during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE), when Confucius and his followers proposed that veneration of Heaven should be combined with the moral values of Confucianism. This combination of traditional religious beliefs and Confucian ideology eventually became known as “Chinese religion.”
Around the same time, Buddhism was introduced to China from India. Its popularity quickly spread throughout the country, and Buddhism became the most influential religion in China for centuries. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Chinese Buddhism developed its own unique identity as Chinese Buddhists blended elements from Confucianism and Daoism into their faith practices. This synthesis of different faiths is often referred to as the Three Teachings (San Jiao).
Although Buddhism remained popular throughout China, the arrival of Christianity in the 13th century CE had a far-reaching impact on Chinese religious life. Christianity brought with it an emphasis on missionary work and an approach that sought to convert large numbers of people to the faith, with some success. The Chinese government, however, saw the spread of Christianity as a threat and began to suppress it. The Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 CE) enacted several edicts that restricted the practice of Christianity and persecuted those who refused to recant their faith. However, Christianity managed to survive and even thrive in certain areas, such as southern China.
At the same time, the 19th century brought new religious movements to China, such as the Taiping Rebellion, which sought to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. The Taiping Rebellion was largely unsuccessful, but it helped pave the way for the emergence of a number of new religions, such as the Yiguandao and the Xiantiandao, which blended elements from Christianity and Chinese folk beliefs.
In addition to these new religious movements, the early 20th century also saw the rise of several political ideologies, such as communism and nationalism, which sought to create a unified Chinese nation and eliminate religious differences. The Communist Party emerged victorious after the Chinese Civil War, and religious activities were severely curtailed throughout the country. Despite the strictures of the Communist regime, many Chinese continued to practice their faith privately and in small, underground religious groups.
The relaxation of state control over religious life in the 1980s and 1990s enabled Chinese citizens to once again openly practice their faith. Since then, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional Chinese religions as well as the growth of new religious movements, such as Falun Gong. Today, China is home to millions of people of different religions, all of whom enjoy the right to practice their faith without fear of persecution.