Religion in Taiwan

Religion in Taiwan (2005 census)

Religion in Taiwan (officially by its political entity, the Republic of China) is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices, predominantly those pertaining to Chinese culture and Chinese traditional religions. Freedom of religion is inscribed in the constitution of the Republic of China. According to the census of 2005, 35% of the population is composed of Buddhists, 33% of Taoists (including local religion), 3.9% of Christians, 18.7% of people who identify as not religious, and approximately 10% of adherents to religious movements of Taoist or Confucian origin (among them 3.5% adhere to Yiguandao).

Surveys try to distinguish between Buddhism and Taoism in Taiwan, which, along with Confucianism, come under the general category "religion in China". However, a strict distinction is dubious because Taoist deities are worshiped along with Buddhist deities such as Goddess of Mercy in temples across the country.

Prior to the 17th century the island of Taiwan was inhabited by the Taiwanese aborigines of Austronesian stock, and there were small settlements of Chinese and Japanese maritime traders and pirates. Taiwanese aborigines traditionally practiced an animistic ethnic religion. With the introduction of Dutch rule in 1624, Protestantism was spread to the Taiwanese aborigines. Two years later, with the transition to the Spanish rule, the Catholic Church was introduced to the island.

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