Taoism is a religion of ancient China. It was founded in 604 BC by Lao-Tze. The holy text of this religion is “Tao-Te King” meaning “The Way to Virtue Canon.” This is mainly a text for morality and ethics. He never spoke about a god or other “religious terms” Now, however; it adapted to the animism and dualism of ancient china.

Some basic beliefs are:

1. A purgatory with 9 levels each headed by demon king.
2. Prayers and offerings can get ancestor out of purgatory quicker
3. A unique heaven for each ancestor
4. Ancestors are worshiped and prayed to

Religious classes consist of:

1. Mediums – in a trance the ancestor spirit speaks though the medium.
2. Oracles – speaks the words of by standing spirits and is healer, seer, and village leader.
3. Shaman - travels into the afterlife, either to heaven or hell, and makes healing rituals, alchemical formulae, medicine, and herbal texts
4. Priests
   1. Orthodox or black hooded - mainly concerned with rituals, exorcism, and controlling spirits
   2. Spirit Claud Taoists – mainly concerned with meditation not rituals.

Later Confucius broke from Taoism on the basis that he believed the most important part of the system is human morality where as Taoism believes the most important part is the “Tao”

The heart of Confucianism like Taoism is adaptable to many religions.