Like many other places in the world, religion is an important aspect of Taiwanese life and culture. Taiwan has a rich religious heritage. The most traditional religion for the Han Chinese majority in Taiwan is the Han Chinese religion.
“Han Chinese religion” is a broad, vaguely defined term. Unlike many other religions (for example Christianity, Islam, or Judaism), there is no religious orthodoxy in Chinese culture. In other words, there’s no fixed set of religious rules and beliefs that Han Chinese regard as “correct” about their religion. Instead, Han Chinese religion is a blend of religions, gods and practices originating from both China and abroad.
The base of Han Chinese religion is “Chinese folk religion,” sometimes called Shenism. Chinese folk religion is the general term for all the local gods and religious practices that Chinese people have worshiped since ancient times. Local gods are usually guardian spirits deeply connected with the local land, whether a town or a natural landmark.
On top of this base is Confucianism, the school of philosophy originating from the ancient Chinese scholar Confucius. Confucianism focuses on creating social order through a strict moral code and veneration of one’s elders.
