Page 14 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

Developing along such changes were the setting up of Chinese temples. The temples acted
as Chinese community centres and used to play important roles in the community’s everyday

life.

Such uniqueness cannot be created overnight. It is an outcome of intra- and inter-
religions syncretisation within the confines of Chinese civilisation that sanctions Buddhism,
Confucianism and Taoism as Chinese religions. Collectively, in this research, these religions

will be known as “Traditional Chinese Religions (TCR)”. Christianity and Islam are excluded
although some Chinese religious movements such as De Jiao Hui recognize these religions

in their teachings. Historically, these religions have been categorized as foreign religions by
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the Chinese . Thus, in this research, these religions will be classified as non-Traditional
Chinese Religions (non-TCR). By referring to this criterion, Buddhism should be classified as

a non-traditional Chinese religion since this religion originated from India. That said, however,
the decision to classify Buddhism as a traditional Chinese religion is not based on the
geographical origin of Buddhism. It is based on the fact that Buddhism had evolved differently

in China. It went through several stages of sinification and has been practiced by the Chinese
since the Sui-Tang period (Oh 2000). This sinification process has caused many aspects of
Taoism and Confucianism to be integrated into Buddhism, and as a result, Ch’an (Zen)

Buddhism emerged (Hershock 2019). However, it is also important to note the revival of
Buddhism among the Chinese in Malaysia. Many Chinese are now demarcating themselves

as Buddhists and adhere to the teachings of Buddhism. This distinction has started since the
beginning of the twentieth century when Buddhist movements such as the Penang Buddhist
Association was founded (Ling 1992, 333).

Nonetheless, the cultural and religious practices of Malaysian Chinese appeared to

be identical in the eyes of the host and other ethnic communities in Malaysia. They have
been commonly (but incorrectly) regarded by other communities in Malaysia as
homogeneously, Buddhists. Such a misconception may be attributed to the authorities’ lack

of understanding of the history and nature of traditional Chinese religions in Malaysia. It is
also possible that it is caused by other communities’ inability to comprehend the Chinese
syncretic religious worldview. For instance, prior to 2016, Buddhism was the only traditional

Chinese religion recognised on the Malaysian identity card (MyKad). Due to this restriction,

2 Christianity and Islam are Abrahamic religions and were founded in the middle-east. They were introduced
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into Chinese civilization after the Chinese got into contact with these religions in the 7 century. These religions
did not proselytize at the time. Islam was treated as the religion of the minorities while Christians were
persecuted and expelled from China twice (Jones 2005). The first expulsion occurred in 845 A.D. and the second
time occurred after the collapse of the Yuan dynasty. Christianity was revived in China during the Qing dynasty
and managed to gain some followings.

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