Module Three
Session 1
Religions of Yunnan
Nationalities
What is Religion
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Religion is a set of beliefs and patterned
behaviors concerned with supernatural
beings and forces. (Gary Ferraro)
Function of Religion
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Social function:
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1. social control
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2. conflict resolution
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3. intensifying group solidarity
Psychological function
1. a cognitive function, whereby religion provides an
intellectual framework for explaining the unknown parts of
the world
2. emotional function, whereby religion helps to reduce
anxiety by prescribing some straightforward ways of
coping with stress.
Lead-in Questions
Here are some pictures, look and think!
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Do you recognize these places?
What religion does each of the site
represent?
Major Beliefs of Yunnan
Nationalities
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Buddhism
Daoism
Catholicism
Islam
Primitive beliefs
Basic facts of Buddhism in
Yunnan
Buddhism
 Sects
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and denominations in Yunnan
四大部派
1. Southern Buddhism （南传佛教）
2. the Acaryan Buddhism (阿吒力密教）
/Tantrism
3. Han Buddhism（汉传佛教）
4. Tibetan Buddhism （藏传佛教）
Southern Buddhism
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It is found in no other place in China except in
Yunnan.
Introduced into Xichuangbanna area in about
13-14th century from the neighboring
countries such as Tailand，Myanmar，etc。
Followers are mainly：Dai， Bulang，
Achang， De‘ang Nationalities
The Acaryan Buddhism (阿吒力密
教）
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Introduced into Dali area of Yunnan from
India in about 7th century
Integrated with the local primitive religion
and forming a feature of witchcraft，and
localized.
Followers are mainly: YI, Bai and Han.
Han Buddhism 汉传佛教
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Introduced into Dali (Erhai Lake) area from
Sichuan and Guizhou in Nanzhao Kingdom
period (653-902).
Followers are mainly: Han, Bai, Yi, and Naxi
Integrated with traditional Chinese culture, it
formed many sects such as Tiantai, Huayan,
Zan etc.
Tibetan Buddhism 藏传佛教
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Introduced to places neighboring Tibet from
Tibetan in about 11th century
Integrated with local ethnic primitive beliefs
forming 4 major sects: Nyingma (red),Kagyu
(the white),Sakya (the striped ), Gelu Sect (the
yellow)
followers: Tibetan and Naxi nationalities and
Mosuo and Pumi ethnic groups
A religion with Yunnan ethnic features
Religious Cultural Site
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Case 1
Chongsheng Temple in Dali
Major attractions of this temple
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The Three Pagodas
The Jianji Bell
The Halls and pavilions built along the northsouth axis : e.g. The Pavilion of the Achuoye
Goddess of Mercy
Cultural relics
views
For more details
refer to “Tour-guiding the Colorful
Yunnan” P137-142
Reading tasks
1. 吴宝璋, 霍永寿“Yunnan English Guide” p.1113. 旅游教育出版社,2006
2.吴宝璋,何昌邑, “Scenic Regions of Yunnan” p.
402-419. 云南大学出版社,1999
3.黄瑛 “Tour-guiding the Colorful Yunnan” P137142.云南大学出版社,2008
4. 杨学政<云南宗教史> P. 26-178.云南人民出版
社,1999.
Questions
1. Name some Buddhist cultural relics in
Yunnan?
2. What are the characteristics of Buddhism in
Yunnan?
3. Why was Dali know as “the capital of
Buddhism” in the past?