INTL 190 - Haiti in a Transnational Context

Contemporary Similarities Between Confucianism and Vodou

        In terms of contemporary similarities between Confucianism and Vodou, it is inevitable to refer to the attitudes of their contemporary followers. According to Watters, China had several policies in history to establish one or more temples of Confucius in each city or prefecture (Watters, 1879: v). Due to numerous temples of Confucius, Confucianism nowadays maintains its favorable influences on Chinese societies. During holidays and festivals, countless parents take their children to the temples of Confucius in their cities to mourn Confucius and study ideas and moral standards spread by Confucianism. Elementary schools in China also require children to study Lun Yu (a text collection of ideas and sayings of Confucius) during classes now. Based on how people worship Confucius and how the Chinese government advocates Confucianism, Confucianism is still one of the most significant belief systems in China.
        Similarly, Haitian people treat Vodou with their devout and allegiant hearts. Claudine Michel claims that Vodou religion was life for Haitian people, and Haitians' contemporary life is immersed with the religious culture of Vodou (Michel 101). As mentioned previously, Haitian people believed in Vodou Gods, and there are temples built for people to worship Gods like Erzuli Dantor. Haitian people also stick pictures of Gods on the walls of their houses to pray anytime they want or need. Therefore, Chinese people's attitudes to Confucianism are similar to Haitian people's attitudes toward Vodou. Both groups of followers try to protect and worship their own spiritual belief system in today's societies.

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