ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the major religious traditions in East Asia by country: first China, then Japan, and then Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia. It explains the different roles of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism in China and Japan. For Confucianism has generally believed that the basic nature of mankind is good. It is only perverted by bad external example or bad social environment, and people will turn naturally to the good when good examples and social conditions are present. The chapter also explains the role of Shinto in Japan, and then examines the relation of these spiritual traditions to East Asian societies today. It further explores the Confucian vision for governance and political life, as well as the historical and current trends for religion and politics in China and Japan. The chapter finally discusses the role of women in traditional Chinese and Japanese societies and the effect of East Asia's religious traditions on women's lives.
