Asia

=== Religions ===
{{See also|Eastern philosophy|Religion in Asia|List of Asian mythologies}}
Many of the world's [[major religious groups|major religions]] have their origins in Asia, including the five most practiced in the world (excluding [[irreligion]]), which are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Chinese folk religion (classified as Confucianism and Taoism), and Buddhism. Asian mythology is complex and diverse. The story of the [[Flood myth|Great Flood]] for example, as presented to Jews in the [[Hebrew Bible]] in the narrative of [[Noah]]—and later to Christians in the [[Old Testament]], and to [[Islam|Muslims]] in the [[Quran]]—is earliest found in [[Mesopotamian mythology]], in the [[Enûma Eliš]] and ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]''. [[Hindu mythology]] similarly tells about an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in the form of a [[Matsya|fish]] who warned [[Sraddhadeva Manu|Manu]] of a terrible flood. Ancient [[Chinese mythology]] also tells of a [[Great Flood (China)|Great Flood]] spanning generations, one that required the combined efforts of emperors and divinities to control.

==== Abrahamic ====
{{See also|Christianity in Asia|Islam in Asia}}
[[File:Westernwall2.jpg|thumb|The [[Western Wall]] and the [[Dome of the Rock]], [[Jerusalem]]]]
[[File:Church of the Nativity (7703592746).jpg|thumb|The [[Church of the Nativity]] in [[Bethlehem]]]]
[[File:Kaaba mirror edit jj.jpg|thumb|right|Pilgrims in the annual [[Hajj]] at the [[Kaabah]] in [[Mecca]]]]
The [[Abrahamic religions]] including [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], [[Islam]], [[Druze faith]],<ref name="TheDruze">{{cite book|last=Obeid|first=Anis|title=The Druze & Their Faith in Tawhid|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FejqBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT1|year=2006|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-5257-1|page=1}}</ref> and [[Baháʼí Faith]] originated in West Asia.<ref>{{cite book|title=An Introduction to Middle East Politics: Continuity, Change, Conflict and Co-operation|first=Benjamin |last=MacQueen|year= 2013| isbn=978-1-4462-8976-1| page =5|publisher=SAGE|quote=The Middle East is the cradle of the three monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Modern World: Civilizations of Africa, Civilizations of Europe, Civilizations of the Americas, Civilizations of the Middle East and Southwest Asia, Civilizations of Asia and the Pacific| first=Sarolta |last=Takacs|year= 2015| isbn=  978-1-317-45572-1| page =552|publisher=Routledge|quote=}}</ref>

[[Judaism]], the oldest of the Abrahamic faiths, is practiced primarily in [[Israel]], the [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]] homeland and historical birthplace of the [[Jews|Hebrew nation]]: which today consists both of those [[Jews]] who remained in [[Mizrahi Jews|the Middle East]] and those who returned from [[Jewish diaspora|diaspora]] in [[Ashkenazi Jews|Europe]], [[American Jews|North America]], and other regions;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html |title=The Jewish Population of the World |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621102211/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html |archive-date=21 June 2010}}</ref> though various diaspora communities persist worldwide. Jews are the predominant ethnic group in [[Israel]] (75.6%) numbering at about 6.1 million,<ref>{{cite news |first=Yoram |last=Ettinger |title=Defying demographic projections |url=http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=3913 |access-date=29 October 2013 |newspaper=[[Israel Hayom]] |date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191655/http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=3913 |archive-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> although the levels of adherence to Jewish religion vary. Outside of Israel there are small ancient Jewish communities in [[Turkey]] (17,400),<ref name="jewishvirtuallibrary">{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Turkey.html |title=Turkey Virtual Jewish History Tour {{pipe}} Jewish Virtual Library |publisher=jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=15 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011161052/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Turkey.html |archive-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> [[Azerbaijan]] (9,100),<ref name="mashke2">{{cite web |url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |title=Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 2009 |publisher=Pop-stat.mashke.org |date=7 April 1971 |access-date=22 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207161726/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012}}</ref> Iran (8,756),<ref name=IranCensusMurder>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute/ |title=Jewish woman brutally murdered in Iran over property dispute |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=28 November 2012 |access-date=16 August 2014 |quote=A government census published earlier this year indicated there were a mere 8,756 Jews left in Iran |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102713/http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute/#ixzz3Ac6duaqw |archive-date=19 August 2014}} See [[Persian Jews#Iran]]</ref> India (5,000) and [[Uzbekistan]] (4,000),<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/AJYB727.CV.pdf| title = World Jewish Population 2007| access-date = 18 July 2015| archive-date = 26 March 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090326020910/http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/AJYB727.CV.pdf| url-status = dead}}, ''American Jewish Yearbook'', vol. 107 (2007), p. 592.</ref> among many other places. In total, there are 14.4–17.5 million (2016, est.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishdatabank.org/Studies/details.cfm?StudyID=831|title=World Jewish Population 2016 (DellaPergola, AJYB) {{!}} Berman Jewish DataBank|website=jewishdatabank.org|access-date=24 March 2018|archive-date=30 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084907/http://www.jewishdatabank.org/Studies/details.cfm?StudyID=831|url-status=live}}</ref> Jews alive in the world today, making them one of the smallest Asian minorities, at roughly 0.3 to 0.4 percent of the total population of the continent.

[[Christianity]] is a widespread religion in Asia with more than 286 million adherents according to [[Pew Research Center]] in 2010,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-christians/ |title=Christians |date=18 December 2012 |work=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |access-date=13 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310002132/http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-christians/ |archive-date=10 March 2015}}</ref> and nearly 364 million according to [[Encyclopædia Britannica|Britannica]] Book of the Year 2014.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LccRAwAAQBAJ&q=reconciled%20table%20%22worldwide%20by%20religion%22&pg=PA324 |title=Britannica Book of the Year 2014 |access-date=13 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429073722/https://books.google.com/books?id=LccRAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA324&q=reconciled%20table%20%22worldwide%20by%20religion%22&f=falsePew |archive-date=29 April 2016 |isbn=978-1-62513-171-3 |year=2014 |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica }}</ref> Christians constitute around 12.6% of the total population of Asia. In the Philippines and [[East Timor]], [[Roman Catholicism]] is the predominant religion;<ref name="Global Christianity" /> it was introduced by the Spaniards and the Portuguese, respectively. In [[Armenia]] and Georgia, [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] is the predominant religion.<ref name="Global Christianity" /> In the Middle East, such as in the [[Levant]], [[Anatolia]] and [[Fars (territory)|Fars]], [[Syriac Christianity]] ([[Church of the East]]) and [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] are prevalent minority denominations,<ref name="HindsonMitchell2013">{{cite book|last1=Hindson|first1=Edward E.|last2=Mitchell|first2=Daniel R.|title=The Popular Encyclopedia of Church History|date=1 August 2013|publisher=Harvest House Publishers|language=en|isbn=978-0-7369-4807-4|page=225}}</ref> which are both [[Eastern Christian]] sects mainly adhered to [[Assyrian people]] or Syriac Christians. Vibrant indigenous minorities in [[West Asia]] are adhering to the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].<ref name="Global Christianity" /> [[Saint Thomas Christians]] in India trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of [[Thomas the Apostle]] in the 1st century.<ref>''The Encyclopedia of Christianity'', Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. 2008, p. 285. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-2417-2}}.</ref> Significant Christian communities also found in [[Central Asia]], [[South Asia]], [[Southeast Asia]] and [[East Asia]].<ref name="Global Christianity">{{cite web|url=https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf|title=Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=16 February 2022|archive-date=9 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809110719/https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2011/12/Christianity-fullreport-web.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Islam]], which originated in the [[Hejaz]] located in modern-day Saudi Arabia, is the second largest and most widely-spread religion in Asia with at least 1 billion Muslims constituting around 23.8% of the total population of Asia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-regional-asia/|title=Region: Asia-Pacific|date=27 January 2011|website=Pewforum.org|access-date=9 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010061404/http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-regional-asia/|archive-date=10 October 2017}}</ref> With 12.7% of the world Muslim population, the country currently with the largest Muslim population in the world is Indonesia, followed by Pakistan (11.5%), India (10%), [[Bangladesh]], Iran and Turkey. [[Mecca]], [[Medina]] and [[Holiest sites in Islam#Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] are the three holiest cities for Islam in all the world. The [[Hajj]] and [[Umrah]] attract large numbers of Muslim devotees from all over the world to Mecca and Medina. Iran is the largest [[Shi'a]] country.

The [[Druze]] Faith or Druzism originated in West Asia, is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of figures like [[Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad]] and [[Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah]], and Greek [[philosophy|philosophers]] such as [[Plato]] and [[Aristotle]]. The number of [[Druze]] people worldwide is around one million. About 45% to 50% live in [[Syria]], 35% to 40% live in [[Lebanon]], and less than 10% live in [[Israel]]. Recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.<ref>{{cite book|title=Middle East Patterns: Places, People, and Politics| first=Colbert|last=  C. Held|year= 2008| isbn= 978-0-429-96200-4| page =109|publisher=Routledge|quote= Worldwide, they number 1 million or so, with about 45 to 50 percent in Syria, 35 to 40 percent in Lebanon, and less than 10 percent in Israel. Recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora.}}</ref>

The [[Baháʼí Faith]] originated in Asia, in Iran (Persia), and spread from there to the Ottoman Empire, Central Asia, India, and Burma during the lifetime of [[Bahá'u'lláh]]. Since the middle of the 20th century, growth has particularly occurred in other Asian countries, because Baháʼí activities in many Muslim countries has been [[Persecution of Baháʼís|severely suppressed]] by authorities. [[Lotus Temple]] is a big [[Baháʼí temple]] in India.

==== Indian and East Asian religions ====
[[File:Akshardham Lotus.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Swaminarayan Hinduism|Swaminarayan]] [[Akshardham (Delhi)|Akshardham Temple]] in [[Delhi]], according to the [[Guinness World Record]]s, is the ''World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Preeti |last=Jha |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Guinness-comes-to-east-Delhi-Akshardham-worlds-largest-Hindu-temple/254631/ |title=Guinness comes to east Delhi: Akshardham world's largest Hindu temple |date=26 December 2007 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=2 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228055300/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Guinness-comes-to-east-Delhi-Akshardham-worlds-largest-Hindu-temple/254631/ |archive-date=28 December 2007 }}</ref>]]
Almost all Asian religions have philosophical character and Asian philosophical traditions cover a large spectrum of philosophical thoughts and writings. [[Indian philosophy]] includes [[Hindu philosophy]] and [[Buddhist philosophy]]. They include elements of nonmaterial pursuits, whereas another school of thought from India, [[Cārvāka]], preached the enjoyment of the material world. The religions of [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]] and [[Sikhism]] originated in India, South Asia. In East Asia, particularly in China and Japan, [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism]] and [[Zen]] Buddhism took shape.

{{as of|2012}}, Hinduism has around 1.1 billion adherents. The faith represents around 25% of Asia's population and is the largest religion in Asia. However, it is mostly concentrated in South Asia. Over 80% of the populations of both India and Nepal adhere to Hinduism, alongside significant communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and [[Bali]], Indonesia. Many overseas Indians in countries such as Burma, Singapore and Malaysia also adhere to Hinduism.
[[File:Angkor Wat reflejado en un estanque 02.jpg|alt=|thumb|The Hindu-Buddhist temple of [[Angkor Wat]] in [[Cambodia]], the largest religious monument in the world]]
Buddhism has a great following in mainland Southeast Asia and East Asia. Buddhism is the religion of the majority of the populations of [[Cambodia]] (96%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Cambodia|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Thailand]] (95%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Thailand|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Burma]] (80–89%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=burma|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> Japan (36–96%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Japan|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Bhutan]] (75–84%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Bhutan|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Sri Lanka]] (70%),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop43&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |title=The Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka-2011 |publisher=Department of Census and Statistics |access-date=29 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724072557/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop43&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |archive-date=24 July 2013}}</ref> [[Laos]] (60–67%)<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Laos|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> and [[Mongolia]] (53–93%).<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Mongolia|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Taiwan]] (35–93%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Taiwan|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=China (includes Taiwan only): International Religious Freedom Report 2005 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51508.htm |publisher=US Department of State: [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] |date=8 November 2005 |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-date=26 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226103042/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51508.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=China (includes Taiwan only): International Religious Freedom Report 2006 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71337.htm |publisher=[[US Department of State]]: [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] |date=15 September 2006 |access-date=24 February 2008 |archive-date=17 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917184720/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71337.htm/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=China (includes Taiwan only): International Religious Freedom Report 2007 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90134.htm |publisher=[[US Department of State]]: [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] |date=15 September 2006 |access-date=24 February 2008 |archive-date=25 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625070300/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90134.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> South Korea (23–50%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=South Korea|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Malaysia]] (19–21%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Malaysia|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Nepal]] (9–11%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Nepal|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Vietnam]] (10–75%),<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=vietnam|access-date=20 December 2010 }}</ref> China (20–50%),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/nationality/han/ |title=Chinese Han Nationality: Language, Religion, Customs |website=Travelchinaguide.com |access-date=9 November 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017220534/https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/nationality/han/ |archive-date=17 October 2017}}</ref> [[North Korea]] (2–14%),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/North-Korea.html |title=Culture of North Korea – Alternative name, History and ethnic relations |work=Countries and Their Cultures |publisher=Advameg Inc. |access-date=4 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805183929/http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/North-Korea.html |archive-date=5 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=North Korea|access-date=9 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm |title=Background Note: North Korea |author=Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs |year=2009 |publisher=U.S. State Department |access-date=4 July 2009 |archive-date=18 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818233244/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and small communities in India and [[Bangladesh]]. The Communist-governed countries of China, Vietnam and North Korea are officially atheist, thus the number of Buddhists and other religious adherents may be under-reported.

[[Jainism]] is found mainly in India and in overseas Indian communities such as the United States and Malaysia. [[Sikhism]] is found in Northern India and amongst overseas Indian communities in other parts of Asia, especially Southeast Asia. [[Confucianism]] is found predominantly in mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and in overseas Chinese populations. [[Taoism]] is found mainly in mainland China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. In many Chinese communities, Taoism is easily syncretized with [[Mahayana Buddhism]], thus exact religious statistics are difficult to obtain and may be understated or overstated.

<gallery>
File:Traditional wedding at Meji-jingu 72570539 f30636e2ef o.jpg|[[Marriage in Japan#Weddings in Japan|Japanese wedding]] at the [[Meiji Shrine]]
File:A day of devotion – Thaipusam in Singapore (4316108409).jpg|[[Thaipusam|Hindu]] festival celebrated by Singapore's [[Tamil people|Tamil]] community
File:Bar Mitzvah Western Wall.jpg|[[Bar and bat mitzvah|Bar mitzvah]] at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
File:Black Nazarene procession.jpg|Catholic procession of the [[Black Nazarene]] in [[Manila]]
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Nebi Shueib Festival.jpg|[[Israeli Druze|Druze]] dignitaries celebrating the [[Ziyarat al-Nabi Shu'ayb]] festival at the tomb of the prophet in [[Hittin]]
File:Echmiadzin Cathedral, Armenia (5047080550).jpg|Christian Armenians praying at the [[Etchmiadzin Cathedral]] in [[Vagharshapat]]
File:İstanbul 4258.jpg|Muslim men praying at the [[Ortaköy Mosque]] in [[Istanbul]]
File:Buddhist Monks performing traditional Sand mandala made from coloured sand.jpg|Buddhist Monks performing traditional Sand mandala made from coloured sand
</gallery>