View source for Religion in Taiwan

{{Short description|none}}
{{Redirect|Religion in the Republic of China|religion in the People's Republic of China|Religion in China}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Taiwan (2021 estimate)<ref name="US2023">{{cite web |title=2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Taiwan |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/taiwan/ |website=United States Department of State}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Chinese folk religion]]
|value1 = 27.9
|color1 = Gold
|label2 = [[Irreligion|No religion]]
|value2 = 23.9
|color2 = Red
|label3 = [[Buddhism in Taiwan|Buddhism]]
|value3 = 19.8
|color3 = Blue
|label4 = [[Taoism]]
|value4 = 18.7
|color4 = Beige
|label5 = [[Protestantism]]
|value5 = 5.5
|color5 = GreenYellow
|label6 = [[Yiguandao]]
|value6 = 2.2
|color6 = Chartreuse
|label7 = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
|value7 = 1.4
|color7 = Lime
|label8 = Others
|value8 = 0.6
|color8 = SlateBlue

}}
[[File:Longshan Temple, Taipei 01.jpg|thumb|upright|200px|[[Mengjia Longshan Temple]] is a [[Chinese folk religion]] temple with both [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and [[Taoism|Taoist]] deities]]
[[File:Kaohsiung Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Centre 07.jpg|thumb|upright|200px|Main path at [[Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum]]]]
[[File:Kinmen Matsu Park.JPG|thumb|upright|200px|Statue of [[Mazu]] (Chinese sea goddess) in [[Kinmen]]]]
'''Religion in [[Taiwan]]''' is characterised by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices, predominantly those pertaining to the continued preservation of the ancient [[Chinese culture]] and religion. [[Freedom of religion]] is inscribed in the [[constitution of the Republic of China|constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan)]]. The majority of [[Taiwanese people]] practice a combination of [[Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]] often with a [[Confucianism|Confucian]] worldview, which is collectively termed as [[Chinese folk religion]].

Many statistical analyses try to distinguish between [[Buddhism in Taiwan|Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]] in Taiwan, which, along with [[Confucianism]], are rather aspects within broader "ancient Chinese religion". It is hard to make such distinction because various Taoist deities are worshipped alongside deities which originated in Buddhism, for instance [[Guanyin]], in many temples across the country.

{{As of|2019}}, there were 15,175 [[Place of worship|religious buildings]] in Taiwan, approximately one [[place of worship]] per 1,572 residents. 12,279 temples were dedicated to [[Taoism]] and [[Buddhism in Taiwan|Buddhism]]. There were 9,684 [[Taoism|Taoist]] Temples, 2,317 [[Buddhism in Taiwan|Buddhist]] Temples, and 2,845 [[Christianity|Christian]] Churches.<ref name="表23各宗教教務概況">{{cite web|title=表23各宗教教務概況|url=https://www.ey.gov.tw/File/71A8E0246065BE0|access-date=2021-06-02|language=zh}}</ref> In Taiwan's 36,000 square kilometers of land, there are more than 33,000 places for religious (believers) to worship and gather. Averaging almost one religious building (temple, church, etc.) for every square kilometer, Taiwan is considered to have the highest density of religious buildings, making it the "most religious" region in the area where [[List of countries and territories where Chinese is an official language|Chinese is the majority language]].

==History==
Prior to the 17th century, the [[geography of Taiwan|island of Taiwan]] was inhabited by the [[Taiwanese aborigines]] of [[Austronesian peoples|Austronesian stock]], and there were small settlements of [[China|Chinese]] and [[Japan]]ese maritime traders and pirates.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=11}} Taiwanese aborigines traditionally practised an [[animism|animistic]] [[ethnic religion]]. When the island fell under [[Dutch Formosa|Dutch rule]] in 1624, [[Protestantism]] was spread to the Taiwanese aborigines. Two years later, with the transition to [[Spanish Formosa|Spanish rule]], the [[Catholic Church]] was introduced into the island.

When the [[Han Chinese]] began to settle on the island and form the [[Taiwanese people|Taiwanese Chinese ethnic group]], exchanges between the [[indigenous religion]] of the Austronesian aborigines and the [[Chinese folk religion]] occurred.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=347}} For instance, [[Ali-zu]], the [[Siraya people|Siraya]] god of fertility, has been incorporated into the Han pantheon in some places of Taiwan.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Shepherd|first=John R.|year=1986|title=Sinicized Siraya Worship of A-li-tsu|journal=Bulletin of the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica|issue=58|place=Taipei|publisher=Academia Sinica|pages=1–81}}</ref>

===17th and 18th centuries===
[[File:Statue of Koxinga.jpg|thumb|upright|200px|Main altar of the Shrine of [[Koxinga]] in Tainan.]]
A large influx of Han Chinese began in the 1660s with the transition of imperial power from the [[Ming dynasty]] to the [[Manchu people|Manchurian]] [[Qing dynasty]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=12}} Many Ming loyalists fled to the south, including Zheng Chenggong alias [[Koxinga]], a military warlord who fought against the Manchu dynasty.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=12}} He sailed to Taiwan in 1661 with thousands of troops, and in a war with the [[Netherlands|Dutch]], he defeated and drove out the Dutch military forces and established the [[Kingdom of Tungning]], the first Chinese state on the island.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=12}} Chinese settlers, mostly from [[Fujian]] and [[Guangdong]], began to migrate to the island.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=12}} The policy of migration to Taiwan was restrictive until 1788, even after the island came under the political control of the Qing in 1683.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=12}}

Chinese migrants brought with them the [[Chinese folk religion|Chinese traditional religions]] from their hometown, which served to integrate communities around the worship of [[Shen (Chinese religion)|Chinese Deities]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=12}} As the settlers were mostly males, came from different areas, and at first not many people shared the same [[Chinese surname|surnames]] and belonged to the same [[Chinese kin|kins]], [[ancestral shrines]] of [[ancestor veneration in China|kinship gods]] did not develop until the 1790s, when sufficient generations of families had established on the island.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=13-14}}

The first settlers in Koxinga and Qing periods brought with them images or incense ashes from mainland temples, installed them in homes or temporary thatched huts, and later in proper temples, as economic circumstances permitted to build them.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=15}} Prominent temples became the foci of religious, political and social life, often eclipsing Qing officials and state-sponsored temples in their influence.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=15}}

There is little evidence that the doctrinal and initiatory religions of [[Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]] were active during this period.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=15}} Taiwan, as a frontier land, was not attractive for Buddhist and Taoist religious leaders.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=15}}

===19th century===
During the mid-[[Qing dynasty]], sects of popular [[Buddhism]] which the Japanese authorities would have later lumped together with the [[Chinese religions of fasting|religions of fasting]] (''zhāijiāo'') because of their vegetarian precepts, began to send missionaries from the mainland to Taiwan.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=16}} They were more successful in attracting converts than either pure Buddhism or Taoism.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=16}} Japanese researches of the early colonial period identified ''zhaijiao'' sects as a line of the [[Linji school]] of [[Chan Buddhism]], although contemporary scholars know that they were centered on a female creator deity, [[Wusheng Laomu]], and identify them as branches of [[Luoism]] disguising as a form of Buddhism free of ordained clergy.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=16}} ''Zhaijiao'' sects identify the ''[[sangha (Buddhism)|sangha]]'' as the community of believers, not as a separate clergy.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=17}}

Apart from ''zhaijiao'' Buddhist sects, other [[Chinese salvationist religions|folk religious sects]], that were mistakenly classified as Buddhist by the Japanese government, were active in Taiwan.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=18}} The most prominent were the three [[Chinese religions of fasting|religions of fasting]]: the Jinchuang, the Longhua, and [[Xiantiandao]] traditions (the latter was introduced to Taiwan in the mid-19th century).{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=18}}

===20th century—Japanese rule===
[[File:Prince Hirohito visit to Tainan Shrine.jpg|thumb|upright|200px|Prince [[Hirohito]] visits [[Tainan]] Shinto Shrine (1923).]]

{{Main|Shinto in Taiwan}}
In 1895, the Manchu government [[Treaty of Shimonoseki|ceded Taiwan to Japan]] as part of the terms of surrender following the [[First Sino-Japanese War]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=18}} During the fifty-one years of [[Taiwan under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]], governors enacted regulations to control the activities of "native religions".{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=19}} During a first period from 1895 to 1915, the Japanese adopted a ''laissez-faire'' policy towards native religions.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=19}} During a second phase from 1915 to 1937, the government tried to vigorously regulate local religions.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=19}} A third period, coinciding with the outbreak of hostilities between Japan and mainland China, saw the Japanese government start a {{nihongo|"[[Japanisation]] movement"|皇民化運動|kōminka undō|lead=yes}} that included a {{nihongo4|"temple-restructuring movement"|寺廟整理運動|jibyō seiri undō}}.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=19}}

During the Japanese period many indigenous groups were forced to practice Shintō, only a few (such as the [[Saisiyat people]]) were able to resist and maintain their traditions. Often this was done by convincing Japanese anthropologists to come to Taiwan and document religious traditions as legitimate cultural heritage however even the indigenous people allowed to keep some traditional ceremonies were still forced to pray at Shintō shrines.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cheung |first1=Han |title=Taiwan in Time: The ceremony that endured the times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2020/11/22/2003747357 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |date=22 November 2020 |publisher=Taipei Times |access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref>

[[Buddhism]], as a shared heritage of China and Japan, received better treatment than [[Chinese folk religion]] and [[Taoism]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=20}} Some Taiwanese Buddhist groups cooperated with the Japanese government, and [[Buddhism in Japan|Japanese Buddhist]] sects sent missionaries to Taiwan and even worked with ''zhaijiao'' Buddhist groups.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|pp=20–21}} The total number of Japanese Buddhist groups that were introduced to Taiwan could be categorized into 14 sects under 8 schools. However, given the profound differences between Chinese and Japanese Buddhist traditions (among others, Japanese priests marry, eat meat and drink wine, all of which Chinese monks abstain from), the "Japanisation" of [[Chinese Buddhism]] was resisted by Taiwanese Buddhist communities.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=21}} During the same period, most Taiwanese Buddhist temples came to affiliate with one of four central temples, called "[[Four Great Mountains (Taiwan)|Four Holy Mountains]]" ({{lang|zh|台灣四大名山}}).

In 1915, Japanese religious policies in Taiwan changed after the "[[Tapani incident|Xilai Hermitage incident]]".{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=21}} The hermitage was a ''zhaijiao'' Buddhist hall where the follower Yu Qingfang (余清芳) started an anti-Japanese uprising, in which many other [[Chinese salvationist religions|folk religious]] and [[Taoism|Taoist]] sects took part.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=21}} The Japanese government discovered the plot and Yu Qingfang was executed in a speedy trial together with ninety-four other followers.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=21}}

After the incident, the Japanese government became suspicious of what it called Taiwan's {{nihongo4|"old religious customs"||kyūkan shūkyō}}.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=21}} The government began to investigate, register and regulate local temples, and it created islandwide Buddhist religious associations—into which even ''zhaijiao'' Buddhist groups were enrolled—whose charters recommended loyalty to the government.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|pp=21–23}}

In 1937, after the [[Marco Polo Bridge Incident]] and the start of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], [[Tokyo]] ordered the rapid acculturation of the peoples of Japan's colonies.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=24}} This included an effort to disaccustom people from Chinese traditional religions and convert them into the nexus of [[State Shinto]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=24}} Many [[Shinto shrine]]s were [[Shinto in Taiwan|established in Taiwan]]. Chinese family altars were replaced with ''[[kamidana]]'' and ''[[butsudan]]'', and a Japanese calendar of religious festivals was introduced.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=24}}

The subsequent "temples' restructuration movement" caused much consternation among the Chinese population and had far-reaching effects.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=25}} Its inception can be traced back to the "Conference for Improving Popular Customs" held in 1936, that far from promoting a razing of temples discussed measures for a reform and standardisation of Taoist and folk temple practices.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=24}}

The outbreak of open war between China and Japan in 1937 led to a proscription of practices and even stronger measures, as Japanese officials saw the religious culture centered around folk temples as the major obstacle to Japanisation.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=25}} Consequently, some local officials began to close and to demolish temples, burning their images, confiscating their cash and real estates, a measure that they called "sending the gods to Heaven".{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=25}} In 1940, when a new governor-general took office, the "temples' restructuration movement" was halted.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=26}}

The Japanese persecution of Chinese folk religion led to an increase in skepticism and loss of faith among the Chinese.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=27}} As a result of this loss of faith in gods, Japanese police reported a general decline in public morals.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=27}} The policies also resulted in the disappearance of the small [[Muslim]] community, until [[Islam]] was reintroduced by the [[Kuomintang]] with their retreat from mainland China to Taiwan after the end of [[Chinese Civil War]] in 1949.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gowing|first=Peter G.|title=Islam in Taiwan|journal=Saudi Aramco World|volume=21|number=4|date=July–August 1970|url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197004/islam.in.taiwan.htm}}</ref>

Another effect of the Japanese colonisation on religious life in Taiwan was due to the modernisation of infrastructures.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=29}} Before the 20th century the travel infrastructure of Taiwan was not very developed, and it was difficult for people to move from a part of the island to another.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=29}} The Japanese quickly constructed a network of railroads connecting all regions of the island.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=29}} In the field of religion, this promoted the rise in importance of some Buddhist, Taoist or folk temples as island-wide pilgrimage sites.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=29}} During this time, some gods lost their local and sub-ethnic nature and became "pan-Taiwanese".{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|pp=29–31}}

===1945 onwards—Republic of China rule===
[[File:Tian Yuan Gong.jpg|thumb|upright|200px|''Tianyuanggong'', a temple of [[Yiguandao]] in Tamsui, New Taipei.]]

In 1945, after the [[Second World War]], the administration of Taiwan was handed over to the [[Republic of China (1912–49)|Republic of China]] through [[General Order No. 1]]. The [[People's Republic of China]] was established four years later in [[mainland China]] under the [[Chinese Communist Party]].

In 1949, the 63rd [[List of Celestial Masters|Celestial Master of Taoism]] Zhang Enpu (張恩溥) escaped from [[mainland China]] to Taiwan after the [[Government of the Republic of China]] retreated to Taiwan after losing the [[Chinese Civil War]], bringing the religious leadership and orthodoxy of [[Zhengyi Dao]] to Taiwan. The lineage for the Celestial Master has since passed on to the 65th Celestial Master Zhang Yijiang (張意將).

The rapid [[economic growth]] of Taiwan since the 1970s and 1980s ("[[Taiwan Miracle]]") accompanied by a quick renewal of [[Chinese folk religion]], challenging [[Max Weber]]'s theories on [[secularisation]] and [[disenchantment]], has led many scholars to investigate how folk religious culture, with its emphasis on values like loyalty, its social network of temples and gods' societies, may have contributed to the island's economic development.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=351}} During the same period, folk religions developed ties with [[environmentalism|environmental causes]].{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=355}} [[Chinese salvationist religions]] (such as earlier [[Xiantiandao]]) become increasingly popular in Taiwan after 1945, although some of them were illegal until the 1980s.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=346}}

After the 1950s, and especially since the 1970s, there was a significant growth of [[Buddhism]].{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=356}} [[Chinese Buddhism]] developed into distinctively [[Buddhist modernism|new forms]], with the foundation of organizations like the [[Tzu Chi]], the [[Fo Guang Shan]] and the [[Dharma Drum Mountain]], which follow the [[Humanistic Buddhism]] movement that was founded in mainland China during the early 20th century.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=357}} Many highly realized Buddhist masters, such as Master [[Hsing Yun]], Master [[Sheng-yen]], Master [[Yin Shun]], and others escaped from [[mainland China]] to Taiwan when the [[Government of the Republic of China]] retreated to Taiwan after losing the [[Chinese Civil War]]. They promoted [[Humanistic Buddhism]] reformist movement in Taiwan, which was pioneered by Master [[Taixu]] in [[Republic of China (1912–49)|mainland China]]. [[Tibetan Buddhism]] had also spread into the island.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=357}} Since the 2000s, there has been an increasing cooperation between religious groups in Taiwan and mainland China which decreased tensions between them. Despite this, there are still tensions from past events, including Taiwan being removed from the [[United Nations]] by the People's Republic of China.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=360}}{{sfnp|Brown|Cheng|2012|loc=''passim''}}

==Religions==

===Major religions===

====Folk religion====
{{Main|Taiwanese folk beliefs}}

Chinese traditional, popular or folk religion, or simply Chinese religion, also called Shenism, defines the collection of [[grassroots]] [[ethnic religion|ethnic religious]] and spiritual experiences, disciplines, beliefs and practices of the [[Han Chinese]]. Another name of this complex of religions is Chinese Universism, coined by [[J.J.M. de Groot|Jan Jakob Maria de Groot]], and referring to Chinese religion's intrinsic [[Chinese philosophy|metaphysical]] perspective.<ref>{{cite book|last=De Groot|first=J. J. M.|author-link=J.J.M. de Groot|title=Religion in China - Universism: A Key to the Study of Taoism and Confucianism|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|year=1912|url=https://archive.org/details/religioninchinau00groo}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Koslowski|first=Peter|title=Philosophy Bridging the World Religions|series=A Discourse of the World Religions|publisher=Springer|year=2003|isbn=1402006489}} p. 110, quote: «J. J. M. de Groot calls "Chinese Universism" the ancient metaphysical view that serves as the basis of all classical Chinese thought. [...] In Universism, the three components of integrated universe — understood epistemologically, "heaven, earth and man", and understood ontologically, "[[Taiji (philosophy)|Taiji]] (the great beginning, the highest ultimate), yin and yang" — are formed.»</ref>

It consists in the worship of the ''[[shen (Chinese religion)|shen]]'' (神 "[[deity|gods]]", "spirits", "awarenesses", "consciousnesses", "[[archetype]]s"; literally "expressions", the energies that generate things and make them thrive) which can be [[nature god|nature deities]], city deities or [[tutelary deity|tutelary deities]] of other human agglomerations, [[national god|national deities]], [[culture hero|cultural]] [[hero]]es and demigods, [[ancestor]]s and [[progenitor]]s, deities of the kinship. [[Mythology|Holy narratives]] regarding some of these gods are part of [[Chinese mythology]].

Chinese folk religion in Taiwan is framed by the ritual ministry exerted by the [[Zhengyi Taoism|Zhengyi Taoist]] [[Taoist priest|clergy]] (''sanju daoshi''), independent orders of ''[[fashi]]'' (non-Taoist ritual masters), and ''[[tongji (spirit medium)|tongji]]'' media. The Chinese folk religion of Taiwan has characteristic features, such as [[Wang Ye worship]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|loc=Ch. 5 (p. 98-124)}} Even though [[Falun Gong]] is banned in [[China]], people in Taiwan are free to practise it.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=zh:中央管法輪功廣告，台南市長認為不妥。|url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/pda/News_Content4.aspx?n=3EBFEAD6FB383702&sms=4A7CECFD5899B97D&s=30253D19817204F0|publisher=Executive Yuan|language=zh}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:靈安道士團.JPG|Folk Taoists officiating a ceremony in Taichung.
File:2014 11 24台南市三郊鎮港海安宮三朝慶成祈安建醮三郊營仔腳朝興宮溫陵廟登殿安座.jpg|An altar dedicated to various gods at a temple in Tainan.
File:四結福德廟斜照.jpg|Temple of [[Tudigong|Fude]] in Wujie, Yilan.
File:Hui-an Temple 2004.jpg|Hui'an Temple in Kuantien, Tainan. The festival welcomed politician [[Chen Shui-bian]] home after his 2004 re-election.
File:Zhunan Houtsuo Longfeng Temple 20160326.jpg|Hotsu Longfong Temple dedicated to [[Mazu]] in Miaoli.
File:Hsinchu Putian Temple-03.2024-09-09.jpg|Temple of [[Guan Yu|Guandi]] in Hsinchu.
</gallery>

====Chinese salvationism====
{{Main|Chinese salvationist religions}}
As of 2005, more than 10% of the population of Taiwan adhered to a variety of folk religious organisations of salvation. The largest of them is [[Yiguandao]] (with 3.5% of the population), followed by [[Tiandiism]] (whose two churches, the Holy Church of the Heavenly Virtue and the Lord of Universe Church, counted together constitute 2.2% of the island's population), [[Miledadao]] (an offshoot of Yiguandao accounting for 1.1%), [[Zailiism]] (0.8%) and [[Xuanyuanism]] (0.7%), and other minor movements including [[Precosmic Salvationism]] and Daiyiism.<ref name="moi" /> The three largest ones—Yiguandao, Tiandiism and Miledadao—and some others derive from the [[Xiantiandao]] tradition, making this the religious tradition of more than 7% of Taiwan's population. Other salvationisms with an important presence in Taiwan, though not documented in the 2005 official statistics, are [[Confucian Shenism]] (also called Luanism) and the recent [[Weixinism]].

<gallery mode="packed">
File:2017年一貫道萬民祭天祈福大典 02.jpg|A Yiguandao-organised Confucian ceremony for the worship of gods and Heaven in March 2017. Yiguandao elders are those clad in grey robes.
File:鸾教 Luanist 重生堂 Rebirth Church in Taichung.jpg|The Luanist Rebirth Church (重生堂 ''Chóngshēngtáng'') in Taichung.
</gallery>

====Taoism and Confucianism====
[[Taoism]] in Taiwan is almost entirely entwined with [[Chinese folk religion|folk religion]],{{sfnp|Brown|Cheng|2012|p=68}} as it is mostly of the [[Zhengyi Taoism|Zhengyi school]] in which priests function as ritual ministers of local communities' cults.{{sfnp|Brown|Cheng|2012|p=68}} Taiwanese Taoism lacks a [[contemplation|contemplative]], [[asceticism|ascetic]] and [[monasticism|monastic]] tradition such as northern China's [[Quanzhen Taoism]]. The [[list of Celestial Masters|Celestial Master]]s, leaders of the Zhengyi school, have their seat on the island. Nowadays the office is split into at least three lines competing to head the Taoist community.{{sfnp|Brown|Cheng|2012|p=68}}

Politicians of all parties appear at Taoist temples during campaigns, using them for political gatherings.{{sfnp|Brown|Cheng|2012|p=68}} Despite this and the contention among sects for leadership, there is no unitary structure of authority overseeing all Taoists in Taiwan.{{sfnp|Brown|Cheng|2012|p=68}} According to the 2005 census, there were 7.6 million Taoists in Taiwan (33% of the population) in that year.<ref name="moi"/> As of 2015, there were 9,485 registered Taoist temples in Taiwan, constituting 78% of all registered temples.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Lee Hsin-fang|first2=Jake|last2=Chung|date=15 July 2015|title=Tainan has most of nation's 12,106 temples|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/15/2003623092|newspaper=Taipei Times}}</ref>

[[Confucianism]] is present in Taiwan in the form of many associations and [[Temple of Confucius|temples and shrines for the worship of Confucius and sages]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=48}} In 2005, 0.7% of the population of Taiwan adhered to [[Xuanyuanism]], which is a Confucian-based religion worshipping [[Yellow Emperor|Huangdi]] as the symbol of God.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=60}}

<gallery mode="packed">
File:草屯太清宮.jpg|Temple of the Great Peace in Caotun, Nantou.
File:Ddm 2004 004 Bao-an Tainan.jpg|Sanye Temple in Bao-an, Tainan.
File:Chia yi confucious temple 2.JPG|Ceremony at a Temple of Confucius in Chiayi.
</gallery>

====Buddhism====
{{Main|Buddhism in Taiwan}}
[[Buddhism]] was introduced into [[Taiwan]] in the mid-[[Qing dynasty]] (18th century) through the ''[[zhaijiao]]'' popular sects.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=16}} Several forms of Buddhism thrived in Taiwan ever since. During the Japanese occupation, [[Buddhism in Japan|Japanese schools of Buddhism]] (such as [[Shingon Buddhism]], [[Jōdo Shinshū]], [[Nichiren Shū]]) gained influence over many Taiwanese Buddhist temples as part of the Japanese policy of cultural assimilation.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|pp=20–21}}

Although many Buddhist communities affiliated with Japanese sects for protection, they largely retained Chinese Buddhist practices. For instance, the Japanisation of Chinese Buddhism, the introduction of clerical marriage and the practice of eating meat and drinking wine, was not as successful as in the [[Korean Buddhism|Buddhist tradition]] of [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese-occupied Korea]].{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|pp=20–21}}

Following the end of [[World War II]] and the establishment of the [[Republic of China (1912-1949)|Republic of China]] on the island, many monks from [[mainland China]] moved to Taiwan, including [[Yin Shun]] (印順) who is generally considered to be the key figure who brought [[Humanistic Buddhism]] to Taiwan. They contributed significantly to the development of [[Chinese Buddhism]] on the island.

The Buddhist Association of the Republic of China remained the dominant Buddhist organization until the end of restrictions on religious activities in the 1980s. Today there are several large [[Humanistic Buddhism|Humanistic Buddhist]] and [[Buddhist modernist]] organisations in Taiwan, including the [[Dharma Drum Mountain]] (''Fǎgǔshān'' {{lang|zh|法鼓山}}) founded by [[Sheng-yen|Sheng Yen]] ({{lang|zh|聖嚴}}), [[Fo Guang Shan|Buddha's Light International]] (''Fóguāngshān'' {{lang|zh|佛光山}}) founded by [[Hsing Yun]] ({{lang|zh|星雲}}), and the [[Tzu Chi|Tzu Chi Foundation]] (''Cíjì jījīnhùi'' {{lang|zh|慈濟基金會}}) founded by [[Cheng Yen]] ({{lang|zh|證嚴法師}}).

The ''[[zhaijiao]]'' Buddhist groups maintain an influence in society. In recent decades, also non-Chinese forms of Buddhism, such as [[Tibetan Buddhism]] and [[Soka Gakkai]] [[Nichiren Buddhism]], have expanded in Taiwan.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=357}} Adherence to Buddhism has grown significantly in Taiwan since the 1980s.{{sfnp|Rubinstein|2014|p=356}} From 800.000 in 1983 (4% of the population), the number of Buddhists expanded to 4.9 million in 1995 and subsequently to 8 million (35% of the population) in 2005.{{sfnp|Clart|Jones|2003|p=186}}

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Tzu Chi Shuang Ho Jing Si Hall 20131104.jpg|Shuang Ho Jing Temple of the [[Tzu Chi]], in Zhonghe, New Taipei.
File:Nung Chan Monastery 008.jpg|[[Nung Chan Monastery]] of [[Dharma Drum Mountain]].
File:Changhua Great Buddha Temple amk.jpg|Temple of the Great Buddha in Changhua.
File:中台禪寺 Zhongtai Chan Monastery - panoramio.jpg|[[Chung Tai Chan Monastery]] in Puli, Nantou.
File:噶瑪噶居寺如來殿.JPG|Karma Kagyu Temple, a temple of Tibetan Buddhism in Tainan.
</gallery>

===Minor religions===

====Baháʼí Faith====
{{Main|Baháʼí Faith in Taiwan}}
The history of the [[Baháʼí Faith]] ({{zh|c=巴哈伊教|p=Bāhāyījiào}}) in Taiwan began after the religion entered areas of China<ref name="hk">{{cite web |last=Hassall |first=Graham |title=The Baháʼí Faith in Hong Kong |website=Official Website of the Baháʼís of Hong Kong |publisher=National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Hong Kong |date=January 2000 |url=http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/bhpapers/vol4/HongKong/HK.doc}}</ref> and nearby Japan.<ref name="Japan">{{cite journal |last=Baldwin Alexander |first=Agnes |author-link=Agnes Baldwin Alexander |editor-last=Sims |editor-first=Barbara R. |title=History of the Baháʼí Faith in Japan 1914–1938 |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust |year=1977 |location=[[Osaka]] |url=http://bahai-library.com/alexander_history_bahai_japan}}</ref> The first Baháʼís arrived in Taiwan in 1949<ref name="brsims">{{cite book|last=R. Sims|first=Barbara|title=The Taiwan Baháʼí Chronicle: A Historical Record of the Early Days of the Baháʼí Faith in Taiwan |publisher=Baháʼí Publishing Trust of Japan |year=1994 |location=Tokyo |url=http://bahai-library.com/sims_taiwan_bahai_chronicle}}</ref> and the first of these to have become a Baháʼí was Jerome Chu (Chu Yao-lung) in 1945 while visiting the United States. By May 1955 there were eighteen Baháʼís in six localities across Taiwan. The first [[Spiritual Assembly#Local Spiritual Assemblies|Local Spiritual Assembly]] in Taiwan was established in [[Tainan]] in 1956. With a growing number of Local Spiritual Assemblies ([[Taipei]], Tainan, [[Hualien City|Hualien]] and [[Pingtung City|Pingtung]]), the Taiwanese [[Spiritual Assembly#National Spiritual Assemblies|National Spiritual Assembly]] was established in 1967. In the 2005 official statistics on religion issued by the Department of Civil Affairs, the Baháʼís had 16,000 members and 13 Local Spiritual Assemblies.<ref name="moi"/>

====Christianity====
{{Main|Christianity in Taiwan}}
{{Details|Catholic Church in Taiwan|Eastern Orthodoxy in Taiwan}}
[[Christianity]] in Taiwan constituted 3.9% of the population, according to the census of 2005;<ref name="moi"/>      Christians in Taiwan included approximately 600,000 [[Protestants]], 300,000 [[Catholics]] and a small number of members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].

Estimates in 2020 suggested that the portion had risen to 4% or 6%.<ref>[https://thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=50c&u=23r The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28]</ref><ref>[https://joshuaproject.net/countries/TW The Joshua Project, retrieved 2032-08-28]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/aug/12/christians-taiwan-fear-severe-persecution-should-c/ Washington Times website, article by Mark Kellmer dated August 12, 2022]</ref> 

Despite its minority status, many of the early [[Kuomintang]] political leaders of the [[Republic of China (1912-1949)|Republic of China]] were Christians. Several Republic of China presidents have been Christians, including [[Sun Yat-sen]] who was a [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]], [[Chiang Kai-shek]] and [[Chiang Ching-kuo]] who were [[Methodism|Methodists]], [[Lee Teng-hui]] is a member of the [[Presbyterian Church in Taiwan|Presbyterian Church]]. The Presbyterian Church has strong ties with the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] since the 1980s.

Christianity in Taiwan has declined since the 1970s, after strong growth from 1950 to the 1960s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rubinstein|first=Murray A.|title=The Other Taiwan: 1945 To the Present|publisher=M. E. Sharpe|year=1994}} p. 94.</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Kaohsiung Taiwan Cihou-Presbyterian-Church-01.jpg|Cihou [[Presbyterian]] Church in Kaohsiung.
File:Taipei Truth Lutheran Church 20161211.jpg|Truth [[Lutheran]] Church in Taipei.
File:Xizhi Church, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan 20150803.jpg|Xizhi [[Presbyterian]] Church in New Taipei.
File:Shulin Sacred Heart of Jesus Church 樹林耶穌聖心堂 - panoramio.jpg|Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Shulin, New Taipei.
File:Tainan Taiwan True-Jesus-Church-02.jpg|[[True Jesus Church]] in Tainan.
File:Taipei Taiwan Temple.JPG|[[Taipei Taiwan Temple]] of the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].
</gallery>

====Hinduism====
There were 2,356 (0.01%) [[Hindus]] in Taiwan according to [[Association of Religion Data Archives|ARDA]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/world/historic-milestone-taiwan-unveils-its-first-hindu-temple-to-strengthen-bonds-with-india-629558|title=Taiwan gets 'Sabka Mandir,' a Hindu temple that strengthens cultural bonds with India|last=Sibal|first=Sidhant|publisher=WION News|access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/indians-abroad/after-iskon-and-ganesh-temple-taiwan-gets-another-hindu-mandir-4333135|title=Taiwan Gets 'Sabka Mandir' That Strengthens Cultural Bond With India|publisher=NDTV|access-date=18 October 2023}}</ref>

====Islam====
{{Main|Islam in Taiwan}}
[[File:台北清真大寺.jpg|thumb|upright|200px|[[Taipei Grand Mosque]] in Daan, Taipei.]]
Though Islam originated in the [[Arabian Peninsula]], it had spread eastward to China as early as the 7th century CE. Muslim merchants married local Chinese women, creating a new Chinese ethnic group called the [[Hui people]]. Islam first reached Taiwan in the 17th century when Muslim families from the southern China's coastal province of [[Fujian]] accompanied [[Koxinga]] on his invasion to oust the [[Dutch Formosa|Dutch from Taiwan]]. Islam did not spread and their descendants became assimilated into the local Taiwanese society adopting the local customs and religions.

During the [[Chinese Civil War]], some 20,000 Muslims, mostly soldiers and civil servants, fled mainland China with the [[Kuomintang]] to Taiwan. Since the 1980s, thousands of Muslims from Myanmar and Thailand, who are descendants of nationalist soldiers who fled [[Yunnan]] as a result of the communist takeover, have migrated to Taiwan in search of a better life. In more recent years, there has been a rise in Indonesian workers to Taiwan. According to the census of 2005, there were 58,000 Muslims in Taiwan in that year.<ref name="moi"/>

In 2021 280,000 Muslims were living in Taiwan with most being foreign nationals. Taiwan is highly ranked as a Muslim-friendly tourism destination.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff writer |title=Taiwan ranks second as destination for Muslims |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/07/18/2003761052 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |date=18 July 2021 |publisher=Taipei Times |access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>

====Judaism====
{{Main|History of the Jews in Taiwan}}
There has been a [[Jews|Jewish]] community in Taiwan since the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/02/14/2003223007|title=Taipei's Jewish community has deep roots|last=Yiu|first=Cody|date=14 February 2005|newspaper=[[Taipei Times]]|page=2}}</ref> Since 2011, there has been a [[Chabad]] in Taipei.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Travel/Travel-News/Energetic-Chabad-rabbi-nourishes-Jewish-Taipei|title=Energetic Chabad rabbi nourishes Jewish Taipei|last=Cashman|first=Greer Fay|date=14 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]}}</ref>

====Shinto====
{{Main|Shinto in Taiwan}}

[[Gaoshi Shrine]] was the first [[Shinto shrine]] rebuilt after [[World War II]].

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Mudan-CHO YEN CHIA-IMG 1330.jpg|Gaoshi Shrine in [[Mudan, Pingtung]].
File:高士神社.jpeg|''[[Hokora]]'' of Gaoshi Shrine.
</gallery>

==Census statistics==
The table shows official statistics on religion issued by the Department of Civil Affairs, Ministry of the Interior ("MOI"), in 2005. The Taiwanese government recognizes 26 religions in Taiwan.<ref name="moi">{{cite web|title=Taiwan Yearbook 2006|publisher=Taiwan Government Information Office, Department of Civil Affairs, Ministry of the Interior|year=2006|url=http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/22Religion.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708213510/http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/22Religion.htm|archive-date=8 July 2007}}</ref> The statistics are reported by the various religious organizations to the MOI:<ref name="moi" /><ref>{{cite web|title=2006 Report on International Religious Freedom|publisher=U.S. Department of State|year=2006|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71337.htm|access-date=1 September 2007}}</ref>

{|class=wikitable
!Religion
!Members
!% of total population
!Temples & churches
|-
|style="background:#FFFFC0;"|[[Buddhism]] ({{lang|zh|佛教}}) (including [[Tantric Buddhism]])||align="right"|8,086,000||align="right"|35.1%||align="right"|4,006
|-
|style="background:#FFD0C0;"|[[Taoism]], [[Chinese Buddhism]] and folk religion ({{lang|zh|道教}})||align="right"|7,600,000||align="right"|33.0%||align="right"|18,274
|-
|style="background:#F0FFC0;"|[[Yiguandao]] ({{lang|zh|一貫道}})||align="right"|810,000||align="right"|3.5%||align="right"|3,260
|-
|style="background:#E0F0FF;"|[[Protestantism]] ({{lang|zh|基督新教}})||align="right"|605,000||align="right"|2.6%||align="right"|3,609
|-
|style="background:#E0F0FF;"|[[Catholic Church]] ({{lang|zh|羅馬天主教}})||align="right"|298,000||align="right"|1.3%||align="right"|1,151
|-
|style="background:#F0FFC0;"|Lord of Universe Church—[[Tiandiism]] ({{lang|zh|天帝教}})||align="right"|298,000||align="right"|1.3%||align="right"|50
|-
|style="background:#F0FFC0;"|[[Miledadao]] ({{lang|zh|彌勒大道}})||align="right"|250,000||align="right"|1.1%||align="right"|2,200
|-
|style="background:#F0FFC0;"|Holy Church of the Heavenly Virtue—Tiandiism ({{lang|zh|天德教}})||align="right"|200,000||align="right"|0.9%||align="right"|14
|-
|style="background:#F0E0C0;"|[[Zailiism]]/Liism ({{lang|zh|理教}})||align="right"|186,000||align="right"|0.8%||align="right"|138
|-
|style="background:#F0E0C0;"|[[Xuanyuanism]] ({{lang|zh|軒轅教}})||align="right"|152,700||align="right"|0.7%||align="right"|22
|-
|style="background:#E0FFD0;"|[[Islam]] ({{lang|zh|伊斯蘭教}})||align="right"|58,000||align="right"|0.3%||align="right"|7
|-
|style="background:#E0F0FF;"|[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taiwan|Mormonism]] ({{lang|zh|耶穌基督後期聖徒教會}})||align="right"|51,090||align="right"|0.2%||align="right"|54
|-
|style="background:#F0E0FF;"|[[Tenriism]] ({{lang|zh|天理教}})||align="right"|35,000||align="right"|0.2%||align="right"|153
|-
|style="background:#F0FFC0;"|Church of Maitreya the King of the Universe ({{lang|zh|宇宙彌勒皇教}})||align="right"|35,000||align="right"|0.2%||align="right"|12
|-
|style="background:#F0FFC0;"|[[Haizidao]] ({{lang|zh|亥子道}})||align="right"|30,000||align="right"|0.1%||align="right"|55
|-
|style="background:#FFE0E0;"|[[Church of Scientology]] ({{lang|zh|山達基教會}})||align="right"|20,000||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|7
|-
|style="background:#E0E0FF;"|[[Baháʼí Faith in Taiwan|Baháʼí Faith]] ({{lang|zh|巴哈伊教}})||align="right"|16,000||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|13
|-
|style="background:#E0F0FF;"|[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] ({{lang|zh|耶和華見證人}})||align="right"|20,300||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|177
|-
|style="background:#F0E0C0;"|True School of the Mysterious Gate ({{lang|zh|玄門真宗}})||align="right"|5,000||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|5
|-
|style="background:#F0E0C0;"|Holy Church of the Middle Flower ({{lang|zh|中華聖教}})||align="right"|3,200||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|7
|-
|style="background:#F0E0FF;"|[[Mahikari]] ({{lang|zh|真光教團}})||align="right"|1,000||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|9
|-
|style="background:#F0FFC0;"|[[Precosmic Salvationism]] ({{lang|zh|先天救教}})||align="right"|1,000||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|6
|-
|style="background:#F0E0C0;"|Yellow Middle ({{lang|zh|黃中}})||align="right"|1,000||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|1
|-
|style="background:#F0E0C0;"|Dayiism ({{lang|zh|大易教}})||align="right"|1,000||align="right"|< 0.1%||align="right"|1
|-
!Total religious population
!18,724,823
!81.3%
!33,223
|-
!Total population
!23,036,087
!100%
!-
|}
The figures for [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taiwan|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] were not from the [[Ministry of the Interior (Republic of China)|MOI]], rather they were based on self-reported data from LDS Newsroom.<ref>{{cite web | title = Taiwan - Facts and Statistics | url = https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/taiwan | publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref> The figures for [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] were not from the MOI and they were based on the Witnesses own 2007 Service Year Report. In the original report both of them were counted as part of Protestantism.<ref name="moi"/>

==Freedom of religion==
Freedom of religion is inscribed in the [[constitution of the Republic of China|constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan)]], and ranked high at 9.2 on the Freedom Scale in 2018 according to the [[World Bank]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Freedom of religion, Scale | publisher = World Bank| year= 2018 | url = https://govdata360.worldbank.org/indicators/hd6a18526?country=TWN&indicator=41930&viz=line_chart&years=1975,2018 | access-date = 2 June 2021}}</ref> In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.<ref>[https://freedomhouse.org/country/zambia/freedom-world/2022 Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Chinese folk religion]]
* [[Chinese ancestral worship]] & [[Ancestral temples]]
* [[Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage]]
* [[Qing Shan King Sacrificial Ceremony]]
* [[Wang Ye worship]]
* [[Four Great Mountains (Taiwan)]]
* [[Temples of Taichung]]
* [[List of Shinto shrines in Taiwan]]
* [[Religion in China]]
* [[Religion in Hong Kong]]
* [[Religion in Macau]]
* [[List of temples in Taiwan]]
* [[Taiwanese chicken-beheading rituals]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Rubinstein|first=Murray A.|year=2014|title=Taiwan: A New History|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780765614957}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Clart|editor1-first=Philip|editor2-last=Jones|editor2-first=Charles B.|title=Religion in modern Taiwan: tradition and innovation in a changing society|date=2003|publisher=University of Hawai'i Press|location=Honolulu|isbn=9780824825645}}
* {{cite news|last1=Clart|first1=Philip|last2=Ownby|first2=David|last3=Wang|first3=Chien-chuan|year=2010|title=Text and Context: Redemptive Societies in the History of Religions of Modern and Contemporary China|publisher=University of Leipzig|url=http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~ostasien/text-and-context-redemptive-societies-in-the-history-of-religions-of-modern-and-contemporary-china}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Brown|first1=Deborah A.|last2=Cheng|first2=Tun-jen|title=Religious Relations across the Taiwan Strait: Patterns, Alignments, and Political Effects|journal=Orbis|date=January 2012|volume=56|issue=1|pages=60–81|doi=10.1016/j.orbis.2011.10.004|url=http://www.fpri.org/docs/media/ReligiousRelationsAcrossTheTaiwanStrait.pdf}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Religion in Taiwan}}
*[http://www.moi.gov.tw/dca/02faith_001.aspx 台灣地區宗教簡介]

{{Religion in Taiwan}}
{{Religion in China}}
{{Taiwan related articles}}
{{Asia in topic|Religion in|PS=Palestinian territories#Religion}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Religion In Taiwan}}
[[Category:Religion in Taiwan| ]]