Overview of Mongol Religion
During the Yuan Dynasty the Mongols supported a variety of different religions. The Mongols cultivated and revived and enlightened China about many different religions during their reign. They promoted Islam, Buddhism, and even Christianity, but not Daoism.
Buddhism
A blending of the cultures during the Yuan Dynasty when Mongol had control over China. A statue of a Bodhisattva with a mixed cultural look. Buddhist influence on the Mongol beliefs showing in the sculpture of a Buddhist icon with a mix of Indo-Himalayan, Mongolian, and Chinese culture “...rounded physique of the sculpture and the way that it twists to suggest depth illustrate the introduction of Indo-Himalayan tradition into Chinese sculpture…” “ The dramatic rendering of the hair, in which the strands or braids are shown as upright individual pieces that end in little curls, also derives from these traditions; however, in India and Tibet, this hairstyle is generally used in depictions of ferocious protectors rather than in representations of bodhisattvas.” Due to the Mongols support and promotion of Buddhism, especially the Tibetan form, could be the meaning of the mistranslation of the hair. Deriving their knowledge of Tibetan buddhism and culture with this new mix of Chinese and Mongol culture. Islam Islamic People were held in high regards with the Mongols during the Yuan dynasty. Many Muslims were put in high ranks in order to administer the Empire opposed to the Confucian scholars. This high regard of Muslims drew them into China during this period, increasing immigration from Turkey and many other places Christianity
Christianity became another accepted and spread religion in China during the Mongol rule. It is because of Khubilai Khan's mother and her conversion to Christianity. John of Montecorvino was sent from the Catholic Church and spent 34 years in China converting and baptizing their people to Christianity. Daoism Daoism had many struggles during the Mongols occupation of China. Due to the fact that Khubilia Khan and the other Mongols were against Daoism. The Daoists and the Buddhists conflicted many times, and the Buddhists were continually backed up by the Mongols. While more limitations were imposed upon the Daoists. |
Sources:
"Chinese Church Voices." Chinese Church Voices. Chinese Church Voices, Dec. 2012. Web. Dec. 2014. <http://chinesechurchvoices.com/tag/yuan-dynasty/>.
"The Mongols in World History | Asia Topics in World History." The Mongols in World History | Asia Topics in World History. Asia for Educators, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm>.
Wertz, Richard R. "Exploring Chinese History :: Culture :: Religion :: Islam." Exploring Chinese History :: Culture :: Religion :: Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. Dec. 2014. <http://www.ibiblio.org/chinesehistory/contents/02cul/c05s03.html>.
"Chinese Church Voices." Chinese Church Voices. Chinese Church Voices, Dec. 2012. Web. Dec. 2014. <http://chinesechurchvoices.com/tag/yuan-dynasty/>.
"The Mongols in World History | Asia Topics in World History." The Mongols in World History | Asia Topics in World History. Asia for Educators, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm>.
Wertz, Richard R. "Exploring Chinese History :: Culture :: Religion :: Islam." Exploring Chinese History :: Culture :: Religion :: Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. Dec. 2014. <http://www.ibiblio.org/chinesehistory/contents/02cul/c05s03.html>.