Similarities Between Japanese And Chinese Religions

China’s religions are obviously going to be different from the religions in Japan but there are quite a few similarities. Many people follow a certain belief system because of what they were taught as a child and by the things they have come to know as adults. Even with the many differences the one thing that japan and china have in common is the importance of religion in their everyday life.
Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Dongba and Protestant are a few of China’s major religions or beleifs. Confucianism is a system of philosophical and ethical teachings that deals with human society, social relations, and individual conduct. Although it is more of a social and ethical philosophy than a religion it was adopted as such
Shintoism is the native faith of the Japanese people. It does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the sutras or the bible. Since Shintoism is so deeply rooted within the Japanese people and traditions propaganda and preaching are not common. The objects of worship are called the kami, they are scared spirits and can take various forms such as natural elements like the sun, mountains, trees, rocks, and the wind, or abstract things like fertility, but also ancestors, national heroes and protectors of family clans. There is a more important goddess named Amaterasu Omikami, she is the sun goddess and has a shrine in Ise. In Shintoism it is thought that all humans are fundamentally good, and that all evil is caused by evil spirits. Most of the rituals performed are used to avoid evil spirits through purification, offerings and prayers. There isn’t a written code of ethics and morals in Shintoism. Most people pray for good fortune and avoid evil spirits, usually before important events. Death is considered evil in Shinto and most tasks concerning death are done according to the same rituals as the Buddhist rituals. Shinto priests perform the rituals. The priests can marry and have children. The priests are usually supported by young ladies in white kimono. They assist the priest at rituals and in other tasks in the shrine. The young ladies must be unmarried and are often the priest’s daughters. Shinto was completely separated from the state and was classified as a normal religion. Today, most of the shrines belong to the Association of Shinto