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Religions
According to Taiwan's Interior Ministry figures, there are
about 11.2 million religious believers in Taiwan, with more
than 75% identifying themselves as Buddhists or Taoists.
At the same time there is a strong belief in Chinese folk
religion throughout the island. These are not mutually exclusive,
and many people practice a combination of the three. Confucianism
also is an honored school of thought and ethical code. Christian
churches have been active on Taiwan for many years, and
today the island has more than 600,000 Christians, a majority
of whom are Protestant. |
Culture
Taiwan's culture is a blend of its distinctive Chinese heritage
and Western influences. Fine arts, folk traditions, and popular
culture embody traditional and modern, Asian, and Western motifs.
One of Taiwan's greatest attractions is the Palace Museum, which
houses over 650,000 pieces of Chinese bronze, jade, calligraphy,
painting, and porcelain. This collection was moved from the mainland
in 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Party (KMT) fled to
Taiwan. The collection is so extensive that only 1% is on display
at any one time.
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