1. HOMOGENEOUS –Society made up of people who share the same culture, beliefs, language, and racial background HETEROGENEOUS –Society made up of people with a variety of cultures, beliefs, languages, and racial backgrounds New York City, NY, USA Tokyo, Japan

2. RELIGION in CHINA

3. 1) Folk Traditions One Folk Tradition that remains popular in China today is the Chinese ZODIAC.

4. CHINESE ZODIAC uses 12 animal signs to predict people's fortune. The twelve animals are Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Pig. The 12 Chinese zodiac signs are determined by people's birth year.

5. A Few of You are DRAGONS February 5, 2000 – January 23, 2001 Good characteristics of Dragon people are lively, intellectual, energetic and excitable. They often can be leaders and try to go for perfection. When they meet with difficulties, they are not discouraged. They are magnanimous, romantic and sensitive about their reputation. They usually have great ambition and an ingenuous personality. They hate hypocrisy, gossip and slander. They are not afraid of difficulties but hate to be used or controlled by others. They are a little arrogant and impatient, while dragon women can be over- confident. Sometimes, 'dragons' are unable to control their moods very well due to being eccentric, tactless, fiery, intolerant and unrealistic. They may feel blank about the future. There is no lack of romance in their life over all, but they seldom give true love. Therefore, they do not usually show disappointment in love. They may criticize others for their inefficiency at work. They have a nature ardent to excess and couldn't withstand setbacks which make them flee away. If they overcome these defects, they can have a brighter future.

6. The Snake symbolizes such character traits as intelligence, gracefulness and materialism. When it comes to decision- making, Snakes are extremely analytical and as a result, they don’t jump into situations. They are effective at getting the things they want, even if it means they have to scheme and plot along the way. Snakes are very materialistic creatures, preferring to surround themselves with the finest that life has to offer. This is especially evident in the home, where luxurious furnishings and surroundings help Snakes seek the peace they need in order to thrive. Most of You are SNAKES January 24, 2001 – February 11, 2002

7. 2) CONFUCIANISM Not concerned with GOD or an AFTERLIFE Emphasis on ORDER “Moral Conduct” & “Right Thinking” Social Harmony results in part from every individual knowing his or her place in the natural order, and playing his or her part well. The Five Bonds are: ruler to ruled, father to son, husband to wife, elder brother to younger brother, friend to friend.

8. 3) TAOISM Not concerned with GOD or an AFTERLIFE Best translated as “The WAY” NATURE HARMONYEmphasis on NATURE and HARMONY FOLK TRADITIONSTaoism has blended with many FOLK TRADITIONS ENERGYChi = ENERGY (basis for much of Chinese Medicine) "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."

9. 4) BUDDHISM INDIA Buddhism spread to China from INDIA BUDDHATEACHER BUDDHA ≠ God, he was a TEACHER Based on Siddh ā rtha Gautama (Buddha)'s Teachings SUFFERING - Tries to make sense of SUFFERING in this life - Method of reaching enlightenment to escapeREINCARNATION BRANCHES There are many BRANCHES of Buddhism

10. 5) ATHEISM Today, most MAINLAND CHINESE consider themselves to be ATHEIST Atheist do NOT believe in the EXISTENCE of GOD.

11. 6) Why is China Mostly Atheist? When the COMMUNIST took control of China in 1949 they BANNED all religious activity because they wanted people to be TOTALLY FOCUSED on the GOVERNMENT, NOT GOD RELIGIONDuring the CULTURAL REVOLUTION in the 1960’s, Communists actively PERSECUTED people who practiced any RELIGION Because of the intense pressure against religion, very few people kept their religious beliefsBecause of the intense pressure against religion, very few people kept their religious beliefs

12. Religion in Japan

13. *7) SHINT Ō ( 神道 ) is the common name for the nation's non-Buddhist, ethic-religious practices and former state religion of Japan. SHINT Ō ( 神道 ) is a form of ANIMISM or belief in NATURE and ancestor SPIRITS that influence people, weather, luck and events.

14. Shinto involves worship of KAMI, or SPIRITS. Most kami are local and can be regarded as the spiritual being/spirit or genius of a particular place. The most immediately striking theme in Shinto is REVERENCE for NATURE. A waterfall, the moon, or a uniquely shaped rock might come to be regarded as a KAMI.

15. ANIME Shinto teaches that EVERYTHING contains a KAMI ( 神 "SPIRITUAL ESSENCE"). Every rock, every squirrel, every living and nonliving thing contains a kami. Today, kami are even pictured in ANIME cartoons.

16. 8) In Japanese mythology, AMATERASU ( 天 照 ) the SUN GODDESS and perhaps the most important Shinto deity. ANCESTOR EMPERORShe is also said to be the ANCESTOR of the Japanese EMPEROR.

17. 9) STATE Shint ō was the official religion of the Empire of Japan leading up to WWII - Shinto ideals, rituals and institutions were used by the GOVERNMENT to promote the divinity of the emperor and the uniqueness of Japan in the period leading up to WWII. Starting in 1890, all students were required to ritually recite its OATH to "offer yourselves courageously to the State" as well as protect the Imperial family. The practice of emperor WORSHIP was strongly promoted by distributing imperial portraits for esoteric veneration.

18. When a child is born in Japan, a local Shinto Shrine adds the child's name to a list kept there and declares him or her a "family child". After death they become an ujiko becomes a "family spirit", or "family kami". Names can be added to the list without consent and regardless of the beliefs of the person added to the list.

19. 10) Because Shinto has co-existed with BUDDHISM in Japan for over a millennium, it is very difficult to UNTANGLE Shinto & Buddhist beliefs about the world.

20. 11) Though Buddhism and Shinto have very different perspectives on the world, most Japanese do NOT see any challenge in reconciling these two very different religions, and practice BOTH. FUNERALSThough Shinto is popular for most occasions (births, weddings, etc.), but when it comes to FUNERALS most Japanese turn to BUDDHIST ceremonies, since the emphasis in SHINTO is on this LIFE but not the next. It is common for people to practice Shinto in life yet have a Buddhist funeral.

21. *12) BUDDHISM spread to East Asia and Southeast Asia from INDIA