Question

Which statements correctly describe the religious beliefs of the early Chinese?

1) The rivers, mountains, and forests were alive with spirits.
2) The Chinese were monotheistic; they believed in one god.
3) They practiced ancestor worship because they believed their ancestors took an interest in the affairs of the family.
4) The dragon was an all-powerful and kind god who was one among many.

Answer 1

The early Chinese religious beliefs included animism, ancestor worship, and Daoism, with multiple gods and spirits rather than monotheism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The religious beliefs of the early Chinese are best described by the following statements:

• The rivers, mountains, and forests were believed to be alive with spirits, reflecting an animistic view of the natural world.
• Ancestor worship was practiced because of the belief that ancestors were interested in the affairs of their descendants and could influence their lives.
• Daoism was a prominent mystical tradition that revered nature and focused on living in harmony with the natural order, rather than adherence to a monotheistic belief system.

Statement 2, which suggests that early Chinese were monotheistic, is incorrect as the early religious beliefs were polytheistic and included a multitude of gods and spirits.

Statement 4 inaccurately characterizes the dragon; while the dragon was a significant symbol in Chinese mythology and was often associated with power and good fortune, it was not worshipped as an all-powerful and kind god.