About religion in Taiwan - What religion do Taiwanese believe in?
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A significant characteristic of Taiwan is its syncretic nature. According to data released by the U.S. State Department in 2003, nearly 80% of the total population of Taiwan has some form of religious belief. However, it isn't easy to categorise them, as they practice not only Buddhism but also Confucianism, Taoism, folk beliefs, and new religions, all of which overlap.
When you go abroad, you should learn about religion. If you have a Japanese perspective on religion, you may be surprised at the gap in religious awareness between Japanese and foreigners. In Taiwan, missionary activities are free, and the government and religion have no relationship.
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When expanding overseas, it is essential to acquire knowledge about religion.
If you have a Japanese perspective on religion, it is not uncommon to be surprised by the gap in religious awareness between Japanese and foreigners.
In Taiwan, missionary activities are free, and there is a system of separation of church and state, with no relationship between the government and religion, so in this respect, it is similar to Japan.
However, there are also people in Taiwan who believe in religion, and it is better to know what religion the people you are dealing with believe in.
This article explains religion in Taiwan and the role of religion in people's lives, so please use it as a reference.
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Taiwan's major religions and statistics:
The main religions in Taiwan are traditional Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity.
Currently, freedom of religion is recognised in Taiwan under the Constitution of the Republic of China.
As in Japan, all religions are considered equal, and church and state are separated.
The following is a list of Taiwan's major religions and their number of adherents and facilities.
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As shown in the table above, Taoism is the most common religion in Taiwan, but there are many other religions, such as Protestantism and Islam.
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About Taoism:
In Taoism, "Tao" means "the way to go", so Tao is the object of the most incredible faith and is considered the law of nature that drives the universe. It is believed that people can become sages through practice.
During the Japanese colonial period, Taoist gods could not be enshrined in Buddhist temples due to persecution. However, after the war, the view of religion was relaxed, and Buddhism and Taoism merged, making it possible to glorify different gods in the same temple.
Taoism, introduced to Taiwan in the 17th century and founded by Laozi, is a polytheistic religion. Its objects of faith include various historical figures and legends.
In Taiwan, the Jade Emperor, one of the highest deities in Taoism, Mazu, the guardian deity of the sea, and Guan Sheng Dijun, the famous Guan Yu from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, are well known as objects of faith in Taoism.
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Taoist temples are also famous as tourist destinations:
Taipei's famous Longshan Temple is renowned for worshipping not only Taoist gods but also Buddhist gods and various other gods in the same place, including the god of Yue Lao, who grants success in love.
The most famous temple, Xingtian Temple, which houses Guan Sheng Dijun, is home to many fortune-telling shops and is a popular destination for Japanese tourists. As you can see, many Taoist tourist destinations in Taiwan show how closely Taoism is linked to people's lives.
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About Buddhism:
Buddhism was introduced to Taiwan before the arrival of Koxinga during the Ming Dynasty (14th to 17th centuries).
Under Japanese rule, the policy was to spread Buddhism in Taiwan at the time rather than impose Japanese state Shinto on the people.
As a result, many Buddhist missionaries came from mainland Japan, and by 1945, just before the end of Japanese rule, there were 8 Japanese sects and 14 sects.
There are about 200,000 adherents, most of whom are Jodo, Zen and non-sectarian.
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Christianity in Taiwan:
It is said that Spanish and Dutch missionaries introduced Christianity to Taiwan in the early 17th century. The reason why
Protestantism is more prevalent in Taiwan than Catholicism because the Dutch, who ruled southern Taiwan in the 17th century, expelled the Spanish and prevented Catholic missionary work.
In addition, the Presbyterian sect of Protestants insists on using the Taiwanese dialect, which differs from Mandarin. As a result, their aspirations coincide with those of the Taiwanese independence movement, which is another reason Protestantism is so prevalent in Taiwan.
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A devout Taiwanese:
This is the explanation of the religion of the Taiwanese people.
Religious freedom is recognised, and many people believe in their religion, so Taiwanese people have a deep relationship with religion. You may
be surprised by many things when interacting with local staff.
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Some people are very religious and always try to live their lives according to their fate.
Some people are strict vegetarians for religious reasons.
Walking down the street in Taiwan, you often see offerings in front of restaurants.
Christmas wasn't as exciting as I thought, so I celebrated it home.
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Respecting and understanding the religion of the Taiwanese people you work with is essential.
And understand them, including their religion.
When expanding into Taiwan, it is also essential to have some general knowledge about religion.
About religion in Taiwan ~ What religion do Taiwanese people believe in? ~
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