RELIGIONS OF ASIA SSWG5d. Describe the various ethnic and religious groups in the region and the effect of geography on their development and their major customs and traditions.

BUDDHISM Founder & Date

Siddhartha Guatama (The Buddha) 530 BC

History Prince raised in luxury but gave up everything

Major Beliefs Four Noble Truths

Suffering is a part of life. Suffering is caused by selfish desires for things you

don’t have. To end suffering, you must learn to let go of selfish

desires and achieve enlightenment. To be freed of selfish desires, you must live a life of

moderation and discipline called the Eightfold Path.

BUDDHISM Major Beliefs

Karma—what you do comes back to you Reincarnation—your soul is recycled Nirvana—ultimate enlightenment (final

reincarnation) Location

Although Buddhism started in India, today it is practiced mainly in Japan, China, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Misc. Buddha was actually a Hindu originally

BUDDHISMThe Buddha 8 Fold Path

SHINTO Founder & Date

No real founder and date Some consider the oldest religion in the world

Major Beliefs According to Shinto belief, all objects in nature

contain sacred spirits called kami. This includes plants, rocks, trees and animals. Kami are often worshipped at family or

community shrines, where the spirits of deceased relatives live.

Many different festivals

SHINTO Major Beliefs

Shinto rituals emphasize purity and worship of nature. Holy water and salt are used to cleanse and purify

things. Bells, drums or gongs are used to attract good kami or

scare away bad kami. Another well known example of Shinto rituals involves

the making of Samurai swords Location

Primarily in Japan Misc.

According to tradition, the emperor of Japan is a descendant of the sun goddess and therefore a god himself

SHINTOSumo Wrestling Samurai Swords

HINDUISM Founder & Date

No real founder and date Goes back 4000 years

Major Beliefs Many of these beliefs are found in a series of

books called the Vedas. Believe in reincarnation, karma, & nirvana Caste system

What you do in previous lives determines your caste

HINDUISM Major Beliefs

The Hindu religion includes multiple gods. The most important of these are Brahma, the creator Vishnu the preserver Shiva the destroyer.

Location Primarily in India

CASTE SYSTEM The Caste system is

very rigid, you cannot move up in social class

The Indian Constitution has outlawed caste based discrimination

The Caste System is declining in urban areas as education improves

The Caste System is still prominent in many rural areas

1. Brahmins-Priests2. Kshatriya-nobles3. Vaisya-traders,

artisans, farmers, herders

4. Sudra-laborers

Untouchables

HINDUISMShiva Ohm symbol

HINDUISMChutes & Ladders Snakes & Ladders

ISLAM Founder & Date

Muhammad 622 AD

Major Beliefs Monotheistic

Allah Muslim beliefs and practices are spelled out in

their holy book, the Qur’an Two major divisions

Sunni Shia

ISLAM Major Beliefs

5 Pillars Declaration of Faith Prayer Charity Fasting Pilgrimage

Location The largest Muslim populations in Southern and

Eastern Asia are found in India, Pakistan and Indonesia.

ISLAMBanda Aceh Islam Map

CONFUCIANISM (PHILOSOPHY NOT RELIGION) Founder & Date

The Chinese philosopher Kong Fu Zi Lived from 551 to 479BC.

History When Confucius lived, it was a bad time in China

with war Major Beliefs

He spelled this out in a code of behavior called Li, which requires respect, honesty, hard work, politeness, and generosity.

Every person should know their place in society, follow the rules, and be respectful, especially of their parents.

CONFUCIANISM Major Beliefs

An orderly society was built on Five Key Relationships: ruler and subject parent and child husband and wife Older sibling and younger sibling Friend and friend

Location Confucian philosophy is influential in China and

Japan.

CONFUCIANISMConfucius Symbol

DAOISM/TAOISMCHINA Founder and Date

No real founder First recognized in 4th century BC

History Before the Communist revolution, Taoism was the

strongest religion in China After the government began destroying any non-

communist religions its numbers have significantly reduced Major Beliefs

The Tao, “the Way”, is the ultimate creative principle of the universe

Promotes, harmony, being virtuous, and self development

Taoists practices, meditation, feng shui, fortune telling Location

China

MISC: SIKHISM & JAINISM Sikhism

Founded by Guru Nanak Monotheistic Salvation through disciplined, personal meditation

on the name and message of God. Equality a big deal

Jainism 4.2 million followers believe in extreme nonviolence everything has a soul Strict vegetarians Do not believe in gods or spiritual beings, more a

religion of self-help