Shanghai is a coastal city with many religious influences. When it was founded Buddhism was common, but it gave way eventually to other universal religions such as Daoism which gave way to Confucianism. Religion was a guide to the inhabitants rather than a controlling influence. The citizens were very tolerant of most religions with one exception. The Emperor Yongzheng was against all forms of Christianity. Christianity believed there was only one God and there was only one way to worship that one god. Yongzheng thought people should be able to worship in there own way.
"The Lord of Heaven is Heaven itself.... We Manchus have our own particular rites for honoring Heaven; the Mongols, Chinese, Russians, and Europeans also have there own particular rites for honoring Heaven. I have never said that he could not honor Heaven but that everyone has his way of doing it." (Elliot)
Built in the religious center of the city a Temple to the City God, is located next to a Temple for Confucius. When the Japanese invaded the city they burned the Temple to the City God down. It was rebuilt by the inhabitants as soon as the city wall and moat were rebuilt.
"The Lord of Heaven is Heaven itself.... We Manchus have our own particular rites for honoring Heaven; the Mongols, Chinese, Russians, and Europeans also have there own particular rites for honoring Heaven. I have never said that he could not honor Heaven but that everyone has his way of doing it." (Elliot)
Built in the religious center of the city a Temple to the City God, is located next to a Temple for Confucius. When the Japanese invaded the city they burned the Temple to the City God down. It was rebuilt by the inhabitants as soon as the city wall and moat were rebuilt.
Sources
MacKinnon & MacKinnon
Elliot, Mark C. The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China. Stanford Publishing. Book. May 2001