World Religions In Taiwan

World Religions in Taiwan: Buddhism Islam Catholicism Joe Landgrebe Louis Liao Tim Hogan

An oral presentation for Cultural and Ethnic Structure of Taiwan Instructor: Prof. David Blundell, Ph.D.

International Master’s Program in Taiwan Studies 2008 National Chengchi University, Taiwan

Questions to consider • What significance does religion have in Taiwanese culture? • What particular Taiwanese characteristics do religions take on in Taiwan? • What are the functions of holy places?

Taiwan’s Greatest Cultural Export • Can you guess? • The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Association (BCRTCA) or Fojiao Ciji Gongde Hui 慈濟基金會

• Different Niche

Background • • • •

Zhengyan Born in 1937 Taichung County Prone to visionary experiences • Ill mother • Helped with her father’s business

Early Religious Experience • Ciyuan Temple in Fengyuan • Dissatisfied with “funeral Buddhism” • Live by Baizhang Huaihai’s dictum “A day without work is a day without food.” • Became an ordained nun at the age of 26

Early Vows • • • •

Not to accept alms Not to perform funerals Not to put on dharma meetings Not to seek donations

The Seeds of BCRTCA • 1966 • Hospital’s refusal to give care to a miscarriage • Conversation with Catholic nuns • Dedicated herself to charity • Thirty followers put her plan into action

Founding of the Hualien Hospital • Lack of modern facilities • Dependent on local inadequate facilities • Forced to send patients to Christian missionary hospitals

BCRTCA’s Appeal in Taiwan • Use of Hokkien dialect • Grassroot support from native Taiwanese and Hakka population • Dispense of foreign aid in favor of selfhelp • Charismatic leadership • Engages primarily in medical and social welfare • Blend of Confucianism and Buddhism

Women’s Religious Phenomenon • Gives women meaningful work • Men’s auxiliary • Abide by traditional roles: caring, compassion, humility, gentleness, and harmony

Interesting Facts • Taiwan’s largest recycler – 5000 recycling centers

• World’s largest nongovernment database of bone marrow donors

Relief Efforts • 2001 El Salvador Earthquake • 2004 Tsunami • 2005 Hurricane Katrina • 2008 Sichuan earthquake

Modern Day • Most effective aid agencies in the region • Controls an enormous amount of wealth • 10 million members worldwide • Women-80% volunteers • 20% of Taiwan’s population • Taiwan’s Greatest Cultural Export

Catholicism • • • • •

The fourth or fifth largest religion in Taiwan Approximately 300,000 followers in 2007 Organized into 7 diocese Hierarchical structure directed by a local bishop, serves under cardinals and the Pope 793 churches

Timeline: Catholicism in Taiwan 1624—Catholicism arrives in northern Taiwan, Spanish priests convert 4,000 1642—Priests expelled by the Dutch 1859—Return to Taiwan, church established in southern Taiwan, Wanjin church (basilica) established 1863 1945—End of Japanese era, 7-10,000 followers, 52 churches 1949—Missionaries arrive from China with the KMT 1953-63—Followers increase from 23,000 to 300,000 1968—Followers reach 400,000, 3.5% of population 2007—Followers number 300,000, 1.7% of population, 793 churches

Growth of Christianity in Taiwan Catholics

Protestants

700000 600000 500000 400000 300000 200000 100000 0 1895

1945

1948

1953

1963

1968

1990

1999

2007

Education and Social Work •

Schools – Fu Jen Catholic University – Cardinal Tien School of Nursing & Midwifery 耕莘高級護理助產職業學 校 – Blessed Imelda's School 靜修女子高級中學 – Kuang Jen Middle School 光仁中學 – Kuang Jen Primary School 光仁小學 – Providence University 靜宜大學 – Taichung Viator High School 臺中市私立衛道高級中學 – Wenzao Ursuline College of Modern Languages 文藻外語學院

•

Social work – Built and operates clinics and hospitals – Provides social services for children, women, elderly, handicapped, foreign laborers – Cited as an influence by Zheng Yan, founder of Ciji Foundation – Established mutual aid credit cooperatives to help indigenous people build homes

Conservatism • Failed to carry out post-Vatican II social teachings that called for clergy and laity to cooperate to reform oppressive social structures and work for peace, social justice, and human rights • Why? – Young, small church, needed to focus on evangelization (official church view) – Associated with mainlander population, and having a transitional mindset of being in Taiwan temporarily – Predominance of foreign priests and nuns – Non-participation in democratization movement – Laity was subordinate to the authority of the clergy

Catholic Church and Taiwan’s Indigenous People • Presence of churches in nearly all indigenous communities • Foreign priests, local lay members • Mass in Mandarin and indigenous languages • Incorporation of reminders of indigenous people’s culture in church • Operation of pre-schools and youth groups • Participation of priest in community life

Sacred Space: Order and Images

The Church and the Youth

Blending of Atayal belief and Catholicism •

Home shrines – Atayal village in Taian Township, Miaoli County – Home of Catholic Tang family, where ancestral tablet is worshipped alongside crucifix and image of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary – Combination of Han ancestor-worship, Roman Catholicism, and Atayal (utux) belief systems – Tang said priest counseled that “one should not forget the ancestors,” and that the government also supported a similar belief.” – Priest had warned that tablet could be worshipped, but that it should be placed across the room • May Bo Qing, “Naming and identity among the Atayal,” In Search of the Hunters and Their Tribes: Studies in the History and Culture of the Taiwan Indigenous People, 2001

Ancestor worship • • • • • • • • •

Uvung/Maho at the end of summer Blend of indigenous and imported belief Atayal practice of leaving offerings of food on bamboo sticks set into the ground alongside roads which the spirits or ancestors were said to pass When uvung/maho held on Sunday, the priest cancels church and attends celebration Held at cemetery, people burn incense, light candles, and leave offerings of food, ask ancestors for protection Later, people return home to feast, drink, sing, and dance Going to graves of ancestors is a recent development Collective worship was previously practiced, utux was “general not particular” Catholic and Protestant Atayal celebrate Uvung/maho on different dates

Mukiraki / Syakalu / Shilu

1912-1992

1915-1998

1929-2004

1913-1968

1959-2008

1958-2008

Questions to consider • What significance does religion have in Taiwanese culture? • What particular Taiwanese characteristics do religions take on in Taiwan? • What are the functions of holy places?