China: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Besides the traditional religions, there are also followers of minority religions including [[Christianity in China|Christianity]], [[Islam in China|Islam]], [[Hinduism in China|Hinduism]], [[Dongbaism]], [[Bön|Bon]], and a number of new religions and sects (particularly [[Xiantianism]]). Both Christianity and Islam were first introduced to China during the [[Tang Dynasty|Tang period]] in the 7^th century. The first form of Christianity to reach China was [[Nestorianism]] in 635 CE. This was followed by [[Franciscan]] missonaries in the 13^th century, [[Jesuits]] in the 16^th century, and finally [[Protestantism|Protestants]] in the 19^th century, during which time Christianity began to make significant foothold in China.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} On the other hand, [[Islam]] arrived in China only a few years after the death of [[Prophets in Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]] and it was spread by travelling merchants and craftsmen who traded along the [[Silk Road]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The first mosque in China, the [[Huaisheng Mosque]], was built in [[Guangzhou]] in 630 CE.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

Of the minority religions, [[Christianity]] has been particularly noted as one of the fastest growing (especially since the last 200 years) and today may number between 40 million (3%)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2007690,00.html | title=Christian population in China | publisher=guardian.co.uk | accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6337627.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Survey finds 300m China believers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and 54 million (4%)<ref>[http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2007/s07100011.htm China Survey Reveals Fewer Christians than Some Evangelicals Want to Believe<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> according to independent surveys. In contrast, official estimates suggested that there are only 16 million Christians.<ref>{{cite web | title=Chinese government official statistics on Christian population in China | url=http://hrwf.org/religiousfreedom/news/2007PDF/China%202007.doc | publisher=hrwf.org | accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref> Islam is another important religion that is practiced mainly by China's ethnic minorities such as the [[Hui people|Hui]], [[Uyghur people|Uyghurs]], and [[Kazakhs]]. Official figures now indicate that there are about 20 million [[Muslim]]s (~1.5%) in China.<ref>Counting up the number of people of traditionally Muslim nationalities who were enumerated in the 1990 census gives a total of 17.6 million, 96% of whom belong to just three nationalities: Hui 8.6 million, Uyghurs 7.2 million, and Kazakhs 1.1 million. Other nationalities that are traditionally Muslim include Kyrghyz, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Tatars, Salar, Bonan, and Dongxiang. See Dru C. Gladney, "Islam in China: Accommodation or Separatism?", Paper presented at Symposium on Islam in Southeast Asia and China, Hong Kong, 2002. Available at http://www.islamsymposium.cityu.edu.hk. The 2000 census reported a total of 20.3 million members of Muslim nationalities, of which again 96% belonged to just three groups: Hui 9.8 million, Uyghurs 8.4 million, and Kazakhs 1.25 million.</ref> In July 1999, [[Falun Gong]] was officially proscribed and [[persecution of Falun Gong|persecuted]] by the authorities.<ref name=ban>[[Xinhua]], [http://english.people.com.cn/special/fagong/1999072200A101.html China Bans Falun Gong], [[People's Daily]], July 22, 1999</ref> It had 50-70 million practitioners in 1998 according to official estimates, ''The New York Times'' and ''The Epoch Times'' said.<ref>Joan Delaney, [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-10-29/61346.html CBC Documentary Probes Falun Gong Persecution in China], Epoch Times, 29 October 2007.</ref><ref>Joseph Kahn, [http://partners.nytimes.com/library/world/asia/042799china-protest-leader.html "Notoriety Now for Exiled Leader of Chinese Movement"], ''The New York Times'', 27 April 1999</ref> However, Falun Gong claims to have 100 million practitioners while the China's Ministry of Civil Affairs claims that there are as few as 2 million.<ref> Xu Jiatun, [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/1999/09/08/1308 Cultural Revolution revisited in crackdown], Taipai Times, 8 September 1999.</ref> As there are no membership lists, current global numbers are unknown.

===Sports and recreation===