Culture of Taiwan (Religion)
The Concept of Face / Mien-tzu
The concept of face is extremely important to the Taiwanese. Face is difficult to translate into words but essential reflects a person's reputation, dignity, and prestige. Face can be lost, saved or given to another person. Companies, as well as individuals, have face and this often provides the rationale behind business and personal interactions.
> Giving Face
Face can be given to people by complimenting them, showing them respect, or doing anything that increases their self-esteem. Specific examples include:
- Complimenting individuals (be careful not to single out individuals when the work was a corporate effort)
- Praising group (company, school, family, country)
> Losing Face
You can cause someone to loose face by causing someone embarrassment, and/or tarnishing their image and reputation. Examples include:
- Direct or indirect criticism of an individual or group
- Giving someone a gift that is beneath their status
- Turning down an invitation or a gesture of friendship
- Not keeping your word
- Demonstrations of anger or excessive emotionalism
> Saving Face
In the event that you cause someone to lose face, or someone is embarrassed by circumstances that arise, the best recourse is to appropriate blame for problems that arise. For example:
- Appropriating blame for problems that arise:
- "Perhaps I didn’t explain myself clearly."
- "Oh that kind of thing happens in our country too."
- "I have done the same thing myself."
RELIGION
Religion in Taiwan is a combination of many beliefs. Most people do not follow just on religion but identify with two or more. Of the major world religions, Buddhism has the strongest influence in Taiwan.
Buddhism
Buddhism came to China from India in the first century but only became established as a major religion during the Sui and Tang dynasties.
Although Buddhism is considered a religion in China and Taiwan, it is in essence more philosophy of life. It was founded in India in the sixth century by Siddhartha Gautama, who was disillusioned by the misery and injustice he observed in the world., and who attained spiritual enlightenment after mediating for many years. The name Buddha means “ The Enlightened One”. Buddha taught that craving and desire were the source of human suffering and that mediation and the search for truth could lead to spiritual enlightenment.
Buddhism in Taiwan has undergone a revival in the past 10 years. The Buddhist clergy has begun to play a more active role in preaching the religion and in promoting charity work and social causes.
Fokuangshan, meaning “Light of Buddha Mountain”, Monastery near Kao-hsiung is a major center of Mahayana [ preaches universal salvation through faith and devotion to Buddha]Buddhist studies in Taiwan, attracting pilgrims from Asia. The place is also home to Taiwan’s largest Buddhist temple complex. Its 82-foot(25-m) gold statue of Buddha is the tallest in Taiwan.
Taoism
Taoism originated in China 2,500 years ago, at about the same time that Confucius taught his ideas. Taoism advocates living a life of simplicity and passivity by following tao, meaning the guiding path that leads to immortality. With the spread of Taoism, Lao Tzu achieved the status of an immortal being and was later regarded as a Taoist god.
As with Buddhism, Taoism was taken to Taiwan by immigrants from the mainland. To some extent, it has merged with Buddhist and folk beliefs in Taiwan. Unlike Buddhist temples, which maintain a simple austerity, Taoist temples in Taiwan are the sites of elaborate rites where Taoist priests offer thanksgiving prayers to the gods and pray for prosperity and happiness. Since Taoists believe in supernatural spirits, Taoist priests are often called upon to exorcise evil spirits and bless homes and offices.
Folk Religion
Folk religion, too, arrived in Taiwan with the early immigrants. In common with Chinese characteristic of merging beliefs and philosophies, Taiwanese folk religion absorbed many beliefs from Buddhism and Taoism. It also has a number of gods and goddesses in common with Buddhism and Taoism, including Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy.
The supreme deity in folk religion is the god of heaven. Other gods include Matsu-goddess of the sea- the house god, and the earth god. Many gods were once mortal men and women who, after their deaths, were elevated to the status of gods because they had achieved some fame or honor during their lives.
Christianity
Christianity came in Taiwan in the 16th century with arrival of the Europeans. The Dutch introduced Protestantism, and the Spanish priests spread Roman Catholicism. In 2002 Taiwan had about 605,000 Protestants and 298,000 Catholics.