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The continent of Asia is the world's largest land mass and includes condiderably more than half of the world's population. Billions of different peoples following a wide diversity of religious traditions. Asia was the birthplace of most of the world's mainstream religions, including Buddhism, Confucianism, the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Chritinity, and Islam),Hinduism, Lingayatism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Islam, Zoroastranism, and mny others. It is not surprising that the continent is the birthplace of many of the world's major religions. China has been particularly important, although the two major Chinese religions (Confucianism and Daoism) seem more like philoophies than religins, eoecially the western construct of methaphyical religion. Neither are living religins, although they are enormously influentialmin Chinese cultural life. India produced two great religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), although Buddhism was largeky displaced before the arrivalof the Europens. The Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) developed on the perifery of Asia at the crossroads of trade routes linkinh Asia, Africa, and Europe. Confuscianism and Daoism are tremendisuly important religions although they are not actively prcticed as a religion. The three major Asian religions in terms of practicing individuals are Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Islam and Hinduism each have about 1 billion adherents in Asia, although Muslims are divided into many separate national communities. South Asia and Southeast Asia are the location of the most populous Muslim countries (Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh). India has the largest Muslim population, but it is the only country with a large muslim popultion where Muslims are not a majority. The countries in the traditional Islamic heartland of the Middle East have smaller populations. Islan is the newest of the world's great religions. Muslims see it as a refinement of the earlier Abrahamic religions (Judaism and Christianity). It involves following the precepts of the faith as revealed to the orophet Mohammed and set down in the Koran.
There are also about 1 billion Hindus, mostly concertrated in India abd the Siuth Asian subcontinent. Hinduism is an ancient religion of uncertain origins and is the oldest major religion still practiced. It involves following a way of life following the principles of Vedas and Upanishads. Veda is revealed knowledge rather like gravity was revealed by Newton. Unlike Buddhism which akso originted in Inf=dua, Hinuism had has only limited appealoutsude if Asia.
Buddhism is the third largest religion. It oruginated in India, but is now practuced in other Adian countrie to the east. Histirically the most importabtvcountries were China and Japan, although mjority communitie are limited to southeast Aia.
Buddhism was founded by Siddartha Gautama, known to history as Buddha. Buddha is referred to by Hindus in Indiahere it originated as as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the Dashavatar. There are many schools of Buddhism. One of the most important is Zen because of its significance in China and Japan.
Man in pre history generally developed animistic beliefs. And there were many similarities in the religions of the great rivel valley civilizations as well as the subsequent ancient civilizations had many similarities. A factor here was that many were in contact such as Mesopotamia and Egypt and to a lesser extent the Indus Valley civikization. China was an exception. China was isolated from the other early river valey civilizations even though it developed after these civilizatins were well established. There are as a result more diffrences between China than the other rivervvalley civilizations. One of the most significant differences is religion, so much so that many observers contend that the Chinese throughout their long history have not been as concerned with religion as the other great river valley civikizations and subsequent civilizations. That is probably not entirely correct. What does seem to be a fair statement is that the Chinese have not shown the same interest in metaphysical speculation and supernatural beings. And the Chinese seem to be the first important civilization to develop a healthy intellectual scepticism toward gods. Several religions have taken root in China and folk religion is also important. And attempts to influence the forces which control both the human and natural worlds have been an important element in Chinese religious practives. We can see this in the intricate web of religious, superstitious and magical beliefs and practices some of which date back to prinitive pre-historic animism. China imported Bufhism from India long the Silk Road. It mixedcwith Chinese cultural constructs like Confuscim and Taoism without the antagnoism and violence associated with religious traditions in the West. The Communists after seizing power (1949) adopted an official policy of athesism and launched a effort to desroy ancient religious traditions and organized religion. Foreign missionaries were expelled. The Chinese effort while widespread and executed with the full force of the state unrestrained by Western concepts of civil liberties were less successful than once assumed. The Communists did reduce the importance of the clan and lineage, it did not break the importance of the family which remained the central focus of production. And the rural reforms which followed the Cultural Revolution have only reinforced this. The ruling Communist Party devoted considerable energy to destroying the the family cult associated with Confucianism and popular religion they continue to flourishes, especially in the countryside. They continue to be called 'superstitious practices'. The Party's sensativity toward religion can be seen in the massive cmpaign launched againt Falung-Gang. Curiously the Party seems passive toward the growth of Christianity in recent years. Once deried as a tool of foreign deveils, Christianity has become the most dynamic religion in the China that implement free market caputalist reformd that in only two short decades has propelled China into the forefront of tecworld economy. Itvi probably no accident that it is Protesrant Chridtisnity that has attracted a major following in China.
India has a fascinating religious history. Two of the world's great religions rose in India. The principal religion of India is Hinduism. Hinduism is a religion almost uniquely associated with India and neigboring Nepal as well as the East Indies (especially Java) where it was carried by Indian traders. For a range of historical reasons it has not spread to other countries. There are Hindus in other countries, but almost always restricted to Indian emmigrants. A more recent religion rising out of India is Budhism, but it was so effectively destroyed by Hindus, even before the Islamic invasions. that its origins were almost unkown even in the early 19th century. Islam entered India with the Mongol warriors in the 16th century. As in so many counties it was introduced by conquest. There are large numbers of Muslims in India, even after the partition that createrd Pakistan. While Muslims are a minority, India is in fact the world's most populace Muslim nation. The primitive people of India were animists, but much of this was incorporated into Hinduism and survives as a range of local traditions. There are small numbers of other religions. Europeans introduced Christianity to India.
Religion is not as important in Japan as it is in many other countries. Most Japanese people are not deeply committed to religion. Normally religious observation occurs only for occassional ceremonies such as (birth, weddings, and funerals). Japanese families may visit a shrine or temple on New Year and participates at local festivals (matsuri), most of which have religious origins. Shinto and Buddhism are the two major religions. These two religions have co-existing in Japan for centuries. Unlike religions in other countries, these two religions seem to have complemented each other. Most Japanese people will identify themselves as Buddhist or Shintoist. Some will say they are both. Japan's over its history has been influenced by several religions. Shinto is the one religion that has been a part of Japanese culture since recorded history. Buddhism came later and arrived in the 6th century AD. Buddhism seems to have had an impact on Shinto practices as Shinto has influenced Buddhist beliefs. This interaction can be seen, for example, in honji suijaku, in which shinto kami came to be seen as the incarnations of Buddhist deities. Japan has also been influenced by Confucianism and Taosim. Although not conquered by The Chinese, Japan was significantly influenced by Chinese culture. Confucianism in particular affected ethical and political philosophy. The influence of Taoism can be seen in the use of the Chinese calendar and fortune-tellers. Christianity spread with the arrival of European traders in the 16th century. It was supressed, but appeared again with the 19th century opening to the west. Assessing the impact of religion is very complicated. One easily obserable imapct is aesthetics, especially the graceful Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
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