Why did the Chinese believe in the afterlife?

Answer 1

I've asked a Chinese person this and they replied, 'Science'.

PRC China is officially Athiest, although a number of them practice Buddhism. There are also many minorities in China that believe in Christianity and Islam. Some sources say China holds the second largest Muslim population in the world, almost 11% of the population.

I am a Chinese and I don't really believe in anything like how the Greeks believed in Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, etc. As long as my family and friends are okay, and there is no huge bad thing like a war coming right at me, I'm fine and I don't pray to anybody.

I would also say "science" since it is something I believe to help us, I don't trust gods to help me. I trust my brain and my knowledge to guide me.

Answer 2

Buddhism came to China with ideas and beliefs vastly different from those of native Chinese religions and its acceptance was a process of accommodation on both sides. Four main differences between Buddhism and Chinese ideas are: the Buddhist belief in reincarnation compared to the Chinese belief in a single life; the Buddhist insistence upon leaving society and entering the homeless celibate life of a monk or nun compared to the Chinese emphasis on family and continuing the descent line; the Buddhist belief in the non existence of a soul compared to the Chinese belief in both heavenly and earthly souls and the continuation of these souls' ability to influence events after death; the Buddhist belief in the independence of the monastic community compared to the Chinese insistence that all institutions are under the government. In all of these areas, Buddhism adjusted to Chinese society. Thus, the Chinese came to believe both in reincarnation and in the deceased becoming an ancestor; Buddhist temples became repositories for spirit plaques and memorial services to ancestors.

Answer 3

There are several billion people in the world who are Chinese. They have, as individuals, many positions and philosophies on the existence or non existence of an afterlife. There is no consistent view.

Answer 4

I'm Chinese, but i don't belive everything.

anyway, Chinese people belive a lot of things like dragons, spirits,and

stuff like that

Answer 5

they belived in the afterlife so you can life a long happy afterlife....... BEAST

Answer 6

Some do, some don't.