Confucianism, Indonesia's Latest Religion
Indonesia is home to a Chinese minority that has long suffered discrimination. Representing around 3% of Indonesia's population, Chinese immigrants arrived in the nineteenth century, bringing with them their
Confucianism: The Principal Religion of Indonesia's Chinese Minority
Indonesia is home to a Chinese minority that has long suffered from discrimination. Representing approximately 3% of Indonesia's population, Chinese immigrants arrived in the nineteenth century, bringing with them their traditions and customs. Most remain Confucian. Confucianism is a philosophy that quickly became a representation of Chinese cultural identity.
Today, Confucianism is one of Indonesia's six official religions. The state did not recognize Confucianism as a religion but as a belief system. As a result, it was marginalized throughout Suharto's dictatorship, as was Chinese language and culture.
This presented numerous problems for Indonesians of Confucian faith, particularly regarding marriages. During that period, most registered themselves as Buddhist or Catholic.
Chinese New Year, in Benoa, Bali
Many changes emerged following the end of the dictatorship. Thus, in 2002, the government proclaimed Chinese New Year, imlek in Indonesian, as a national public holiday. In 2006, the state officially recognized Confucianism's entry among Indonesia's official religions, taking another step toward equality for Indonesia's Chinese minorities.
A few Confucian temples can be found in several regions of Indonesia, such as in Benoa or Semarang.
