1. Religions of Asia
SSWG5d. Describe the various ethnic and religious groups in the region and the effect of geography on their development and their major customs and traditions.

2. Buddhism Founder & Date Siddhartha Guatama (The Buddha) 530 BC History
Prince raised in luxury but gave up everything
Major Beliefs
Four Noble Truths
Suffering is a part of life.
Suffering is caused by selfish desires for things you don’t have.
To end suffering, you must learn to let go of selfish desires and achieve enlightenment.
To be freed of selfish desires, you must live a life of moderation and discipline called the Eightfold Path.

3. Buddhism Major Beliefs Karma—what you do comes back to you
Reincarnation—your soul is recycled
Nirvana—ultimate enlightenment (final reincarnation)
Location
Although Buddhism started in India, today it is practiced mainly in Japan, China, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Misc.
Buddha was actually a Hindu originally

4. Buddhism
8 Fold Path
The Buddha

5. Shinto Founder & Date No real founder and date
Some consider the oldest religion in the world
Major Beliefs
According to Shinto belief, all objects in nature contain sacred spirits called kami.
This includes plants, rocks, trees and animals.
Kami are often worshipped at family or community shrines, where the spirits of deceased relatives live.
Many different festivals

6. Shinto
Major Beliefs
Shinto rituals emphasize purity and worship of nature.
Holy water and salt are used to cleanse and purify things.
Bells, drums or gongs are used to attract good kami or scare away bad kami.
Another well known example of Shinto rituals involves the making of Samurai swords
Location
Primarily in Japan
Misc.
According to tradition, the emperor of Japan is a descendant of the sun goddess and therefore a god himself

7. Samurai Swords
Shinto
Sumo Wrestling

8. Hinduism Founder & Date No real founder and date Goes back 4000 years
Major Beliefs
Many of these beliefs are found in a series of books called the Vedas.
Believe in reincarnation, karma, & nirvana
Caste system
What you do in previous lives determines your caste

9. Hinduism Major Beliefs
The Hindu religion includes multiple gods. The most important of these are
Brahma, the creator
Vishnu the preserver
Shiva the destroyer.
Location
Primarily in India

10. Caste System
The Caste system is very rigid, you cannot move up in social class The Indian Constitution has outlawed caste based discrimination The Caste System is declining in urban areas as education improves The Caste System is still prominent in many rural areas

11. Caste levels
1. Brahmins-Priests 2. Kshatriya-nobles 3. Vaisya-traders, artisans, farmers, herders 4. Sudra-laborers 5. Untouchables

12. Hinduism
Shiva
Ohm symbol

13. Hinduism
Snakes & Ladders
Chutes & Ladders

14. Islam Founder & Date Muhammad 622 AD Major Beliefs Monotheistic
Allah
Muslim beliefs and practices are spelled out in their holy book, the Qur’an
Two major divisions
Sunni
Shia

15. Islam Major Beliefs 5 Pillars Location
Declaration of Faith
Prayer
Charity
Fasting
Pilgrimage
Location
The largest Muslim populations in Southern and Eastern Asia are found in India, Pakistan and Indonesia.

16. Banda Aceh
islam
Islam Map

17. Confucianism (philosophy not religion)
Founder & Date
The Chinese philosopher Kong Fu Zi
Lived from 551 to 479BC.
History
When Confucius lived,
it was a bad time in China with war
Major Beliefs
He spelled this out in a code of behavior called Li, which requires respect, honesty, hard work, politeness, and generosity.
Every person should know their place in society, follow the rules, and be respectful, especially of their parents.

18. Confucianism Major Beliefs
An orderly society was built on Five Key Relationships:
ruler and subject
parent and child
husband and wife
Older sibling and younger sibling
Friend and friend
Location
Confucian philosophy is influential in China and Japan.

19. confucianism
Symbol
Confucius

20. Daoism/Taoism China Founder and Date No real founder
First recognized in 4th century BC
History
Before the Communist revolution, Taoism was the strongest religion in China
After the government began destroying any non-communist religions its numbers have significantly reduced
Major Beliefs
The Tao, “the Way”, is the ultimate creative principle of the universe
Promotes, harmony, being virtuous, and self development
Taoists practices, meditation, feng shui, fortune telling
Location
China

21. Misc: Sikhism & Jainism
Founded by Guru Nanak
Monotheistic
Salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God.
Equality a big deal
Jainism
4.2 million followers
believe in extreme nonviolence
everything has a soul
Strict vegetarians
Do not believe in gods or spiritual beings, more a religion of self-help