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THE
STORY
OF
RELIGION
IN
CHINA
For millennia, the Chinese
have been inftuenced by a wide
range of traditions and philos–
ophies. Now, a new era may be
dawning in the history of reli-
gion in China.
by
Keith W. Stump
U
t
us journey back over a dozen
enturies before the time of Jesus.
The place is ancient China dur–
ing the Shang dynasty
(1765-1121
B.C.).
The Jatter half of the Shang
dynasty corresponds to the period of
CHINA 'S RELIG/OUS HERI TAGE
is
reflected in the fol/owing scenes:
Clockwise from top left: Chinese Mos–
lems pray facing Meces; The Hall of
Supreme Harmony in Peking's Forbid–
den City, an example of traditional
Chinese temple architecture; a portrait
of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha;
the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests,
central building of the 15th-century
Temple of Heaven in Peking; Chinese
Buddhist priest sounds cal/ to prayer
on ancient wooden trumpet; the sage
Confucius, the most honored of Chi–
nese philosophers; a Chinese Catholic
recites prayers with aid of rosary;
Chinese painting depicting the phi/os–
opher Lao-tzu, founder of Taoism,
holding the child Confucius.
Clockwise trom top left: LiuHeung Shing- Contsct. George
Holton- Pho/o Researchers, Culver Pictures, George Hol–
ton-Photo Researchers. Wide World, Culver Plctures, Líu
Heung Shlng- Contact. Culver Pictures
10
The
PLAIN TRUTH