TheEastern religions are thereligions which originated inEast,South andSoutheast Asia and thus have dissimilarities withWestern andAfrican religions.[1] Eastern religions include:[2][3]
The East-West religious distinction (just like theEast-West culture distinction, and the implications that arise from it) is broad and not precise. Furthermore, geographical distinctions have less meaning in the current context of globaltransculturation.
While manyWestern observers attempt to distinguish betweenEastern philosophies and religions, this is a distinction that does not exist in some Eastern traditions.[4]
Also known asDharmic religions,Hinduism,Buddhism,Jainism, andSikhism originated in theIndian subcontinent and share similar concepts (e.g.,dharma,karma,moksha).[5][6]
Hinduism originated on the Indian subcontinent and was related to many other religious traditions outside the subcontinent, in places like ancient Central Asia and ancient Iran. It is considered by some to be the world's oldest extant major religion. Some consider Hinduism to originate from theIndus Valley civilization along with animism of the pre-Harappan migrants as well as theIndo-Aryan migrants. Hinduism contains a vast body ofscripture, divided asrevealed andremembered, expounding on dharma, or religious living. Hindus consider theVedas and theUpanishads as being among the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. TheBhagavad Gītā, a treatise excerpted from theMahābhārata, is sometimes called a summary of the spiritual teachings of theVedas. It is difficult to identify any universal belief or practice in Hinduism, although prominent themes include:Dharma,Samsara,Karma, andMoksha. Hinduism is sometimes called apolytheistic religion, but this is an oversimplification. Hinduism includes a diverse collection of schools whose beliefs spanmonotheism,polytheism,pantheism,monism and evenatheism. For instance, theAdvaita Vedanta school holds that there is only one causal entity (Brahman), which manifests itself into all the various living and non-living forms that we observe, whereas traditions such asVaishnavism andShaivism worshipVishnu andShiva in a relatively more monotheistic sense (caused by a differentiation between theparabrahman andatman). A number of scholars even consider theSamkhya school of thought to have atheistic leanings.[7]
Buddhism is anon-theisticDharmic religion andphilosophy.[8] Buddhism was founded around the 5th centuryBCE in present-day Nepal bySiddhartha Gautama, known to his followers as the Buddha, with theFour Noble Truths and theNoble Eightfold Path as its central principles. According to the scriptures, the Four Noble Truths were revealed by theBuddha in his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The main schools of Buddhism are divided intoTheravada,Mahayana andVajrayana.[9] In academic circles, Mahayana is further divided intoEast Asian andTibetan Buddhism. Buddhism teaches that life isduḥkha or suffering and the primary goal of Buddhism is the liberation of the practitioner fromsamsara or the endless cycle of death andrebirth. Buddhists hold thatBuddhahood orEnlightenment is the solution to the problem of suffering.[10]
Jainism is the religion of the followers of the Jinas orTirthankars (torch bearers and spiritual teachers of dharma).[11]Parshvanatha andMahavira, the 23rd and 24thTirthankars, respectively, revived the Jain religion and re-organized the shraman sangha. Jains highlight the practice of austerity.Jain philosophy states that thejiva, or soul, can escape the cycle of rebirth and death by freeing itself from karmic bondages. When nothing remains but the purity of the jiva, that person is called ajina, or winner, which is the origin of the term Jain.Karma is viewed as an accumulation that burdens the soul, causing attachment and suffering.[12]Ahimsa, or non-violence, is central to Jain faith, philosophy and practice. It is interpreted very strictly as prohibiting all forms of harm to other living beings. Due to this, Jainism requires a strictvegetarian lifestyle.Ahimsa also applies to speaking, as one's words can cause harm and suffering.[13]
Sikhism is a religion which began in Punjab ofNorthern India.[14] It is founded on the teachings ofGuru Nanak Dev and the nine humangurus that followed. He received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God in Sultanpur. His views rejected the traditional worships and caste of the Hindu faith.[15] Freedom from reincarnation is tied to remembrance and repetition on one universal God. In Sikhism, God is Nirankar, a formless and shapeless one.[16] Sikhs believe that there is one universal God who is the ultimate creator, sustainer, and destroyer. TheGurū Granth Sāhib are the central scriptures intended to preserve hymns and the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints from Hindu and Sufi traditions. Rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship are considered of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages. The tenets of Sikhism include (1) honest living/earning (2) tithing and giving alms (3) chanting on God.[12] Sikhism also has a strong warrior tradition which arose in defense of religious freedom and human rights from a tyrannicalMoghul occupation of India.[17]
The group of East Asian religions or philosophies, also known as Taoic religions, may be considered as forming a group withinworld religions[18] comparable to theAbrahamic orDharmic groups. The Taoic faiths claim at least 500 million members worldwide.[19]
Taoism, also known as Daoism, comprises a variety of related religious and philosophical traditions.[20] Categorization of Taoist sects and movements is very controversial. Taoist propriety and ethics places an emphasis on theThree Jewels of the Tao; love, moderation, humility. Taoist theology focuses on doctrines ofwu wei ("non-action"), spontaneity,humanism,relativism and emptiness.[21]
Most traditional Chinese Taoists are polytheistic. Taoism or Daoism is a type of belief, or a way of thinking about life. It is at least 2,500 years old and it comes from China. Taoism is now said to be a philosophy. Tao (or Dao, 道) is the name of the force or the "Way" that Taoists believe makes everything in the world. There are disagreements regarding the proper composition of this pantheon. Popular Taoism typically presents theJade Emperor as the headdeity. Intellectual, or "elite", Taoism usually presentsLaozi and theThree Pure Ones at the top of the pantheon. Nature and ancestor spirits are common in popular Taoism. But this sort ofshamanism is eschewed for an emphasis oninternal alchemy among the "elite" Taoists. Tao itself is rarely an object of worship, being treated more like the South Asian concept ofatman.[22]
Shinto is an animisticfolk religion practiced in Japan.[23] Shinto literally means "the way of the gods". Many Japanese Shintoists also identify themselves as Buddhists. JapanesePure Land Buddhism is deeply intertwined with the Shinto faith. Shinto practitioners commonly affirm tradition, family, nature, cleanliness and ritual observation as core values. Taoic influence is significant in their beliefs about nature and self-mastery.[24]
Ritual cleanliness is a central part of Shinto life.Shrines have a significant place in Shinto, reflecting the animistic veneration of thekami. "Folk", or "popular", Shinto places an emphasis on shamanism, particularlydivination,spirit possession andfaith healing. "Sect" Shinto is a diverse group including mountain-worshippers and Confucian Shintoists.[25]
Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social and political thought, influential in the history of East Asia.[26] It is highly debated amongst scholars whether Confucianism is a religion or simply an ethical system. The Chinese Communist Party does not recognize it as a religion.[27] It is commonly associated withlegalism but it rejects legalism forritualism. It also endorsesmeritocracy as the ideal ofnobility. Confucianism has a complicated system governing duties and etiquette in relationships. Confucian ethics focus on familial duty, loyalty and humaneness.[28]
There are organizations that specifically promote Confucianism as a religion in Indonesia (Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia) and Hong Kong (Confucian Academy).
Confucianism tolerates the Chinese folk recognition of the existence of animistic spirits,ghosts anddeities. It approves paying them proper respect, but at a more fundamental level encourages avoiding them. Confucian thought is notable as the framework upon which the syncreticNeo-Confucianism was built.[29]
Shamanism andanimism have historically been practised in Asia, and is still practiced in most of Asia.[30]
This anthology was developed primarily for use [...] in the study of religious traditions of the East, specifically the Indian subcontinent, Tibet, China, and Japan.
Part of Bahn's and others' arguments are based in an arbitrary approach to conceptualizing shamanism. For instance, Bahn characterizes Siberia as 'the heartland of true shamanism' (59), resorting to the idea that the word must be restricted to the cultural region of its origin.
