Ancient and Pre-historic
Further information: Wonderism and Wu (shaman)Prior to the advent of Chinese civilization and world religions in the region generally known today as East Asia including the territorial boundaries of modern-day China; tribal totemistic and animistic religious practices were the way in which prayers, sacrifices or offerings were communicated to the spiritual world by groups or mediatory individuals such as shamans.
Following the dawn of Chinese civilization, an early indigenous form of religious practice in Chinese history began to develop from the more primitive elements of animism, folk religions and shamanism; known as Taoism, and is considered a traditional Chinese religion along with Confucianism and other Chinese folk religions with a constituency of almost 400 million followers in China alone. Shamanic religions, which have the longest recorded history in China, are still practiced formally by numerous ethnic groups around China, including the Han Chinese, but historic text and literature usually neglect this religious aspect of the Han people's history.
Read more about this topic: Religion In China
Famous quotes containing the words ancient and and/or ancient:
“I think a Person who is thus terrifyed [sic] with the Imagination of Ghosts and Spectres much more reasonable, than one who contrary to the Reports of all Historians sacred and profane, ancient and modern, and to the Traditions of all Nations, thinks the Appearance of Spirits fabulous and groundless.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719)
“Thus Satan talking to his neerest Mate
With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes
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Prone on the Flood, extended long and large
Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge
As whom the Fables name of monstrous size,
Titanian, or Earth-born, that warr’d on Jove,
Briarios or Typhon, whom the Den
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Leviathan,”
—John Milton (1608–1674)