Listen to this articlezōngjiào 宗教
Holistic Teachings
“宗教”一词最早见于佛教典籍，其称佛之所说为“教”，有客观教说、普遍教化之意；称佛之弟子所说为“宗”，为“教”的分支，有个人主观信念之意。“宗教”合称，其义有二：其一，指佛门宗旨、教理，涵盖佛教全体；其二，指某一佛教宗派的教旨或尊信同一教旨之支派。后道教亦使用此词。近代以降，“宗教”成为religion译词，基本意涵演变为：人们通过虔敬的信仰，与超越的、无限的、绝对的主宰结合一体，达于美好境地，获得永恒幸福。
The term zongjiao was first seen in Buddhist classics, where jiao (教) referred to what the Buddha himself had taught, whether in his direct teachings or his wider endeavours to enlighten; zong (宗) on the other hand referred to what the Buddha’s disciples had said and was a subdivision of jiao, containing subjective, personal beliefs. When the two are combined the term has two meanings: (1) encompassing the purposes and doctrines of Buddhism overall, and (2) referring to the beliefs of a particular branch or sect that share the same doctrines. Later on, Daoism also began to use the term, and in the modern era, zongjiao has been used to translate into Chinese the word “religion,” where people come together through worship to commune with a supernatural, transcendent, and absolute supreme being, to enter a realm of glory, and attain eternal happiness.
引例 Citation：
◎（佛）灭度后，委付迦叶，展转相承一人者。此亦盖论当代为宗教主，如土无二王。（释道原《景德传灯录·圭峰宗密禅师》）
（释迦摩尼去世时，将衣钵传给迦叶，自此佛教教理由一人负责传承。现在人们论起佛教教主，也如同国无二主一样。）
When Shakyamuni was dying, he gave his cassock and alms bowl to MahāKāśyapa. This started the tradition of Buddhist teachings being passed on through a single individual. This means that Buddhism cannot have two leaders at the same time, just as a country cannot have two rulers at the same time. (Shi Daoyuan: Passing on Buddhist Teachings During the Jingde Reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song)
