Chinese culture: Buddhism

By Patricia Mohr@

Shanghai, China—Some friends and I visited Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple one sunny afternoon. The temple was neither crowded nor sparse. Visitors paid their respects to the images of Buddha. Some lit incense in the courtyard and bowed in meditation to all four directions.

“Take some,” said Valentina, a friend from the tour group, as she handed me incense sticks.

Lighting a stick, I felt a sense of calm and belonging. It felt good to pay respects to the ancient culture and practices. I began to relax. The temple felt like a haven from the busy and polluted streets of Shanghai. I thought about what Buddhism might mean to people visiting the temple.

Buddhism began some 2,500 years ago when the first Buddha, Siddhartha Gotama, became enlightened. Some consider it to be a religion. Others say it is a philosophy. For those who practice it, Buddhism is a way of life. Buddhism teaches that happiness comes from leading a mindful and moral life. It's a significant influence on Chinese life.

On one end of the temple, members held a service and practiced singing. In another corner, Buddhist monks took part in a ceremony. On the second floor is the seated Jade Buddha—a 2,220-pound depiction of the Buddha at the moment of enlightenment.

One thing was certain: the Jade Buddha Temple was too authentic to be merely a tourist attraction. It was a bona fide place of Chinese culture and meditation.