All flesh is equal

Abstract Research has consistently shown that in comparison to some Western cultural groups, such as American and British individuals, people from Eastern Asian cultures pay heightened attention to the hierarchical position of interaction partners, thereby displaying greater politeness to high-ranking individuals. This study aimed to challenge the long-standing assumption that politeness is invariably contingent upon the status of communication partners in Chinese culture. We demonstrated that due to their religious belief in the principle that “all flesh is equal,” Chinese Buddhists exhibited consistent levels of politeness irrespective of the status of their interlocutor. In Study 1, we investigated how Han Taoists and Buddhists responded to junior or senior individuals when declining a request. The results indicated that while Taoists demonstrated increased politeness to senior colleagues compared to juniors, the recipient’s status did not affect the politeness levels of Han Buddhists. Additionally, there were no observed differences in politeness between the two groups in the junior condition. Study 2 replicated these findings among Tibetan Buddhists. Collectively, these findings suggest that religious affiliations may exert enduring effects on important aspects of politeness strategies and communication styles.