Chinese Religions

    Religions brought to Malaysia with the Chinese include Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.  The focus of Chinese Buddhism is the belief in transmigration among the six planes of life, which include “hell, the realm of ghosts, the animal realm, and the realm of the titans, which are spheres of retribution and privation, the human plane, and the realm of the gods, a sphere of reward.”  (Zaehner, 1959).  Confucianism recognizes five cardinal virtues, which include benevolence, duty, manners, wisdom, and trustworthiness.  (Zaehner, 1959).  The word Taoism means “the Way”.  It is as much a philosophy as it is a religion.  Taoists do not believe in spiritual immortality as religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity do.