1. Three Religions of China Religions of China Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism

2. Taoism Taoism Taoism is not a religion, nor a philosophy. Taoism is a "Way" of life. The Tao is the natural order of things. It is a force that flows through every living and non moving object, as well as through the entire universe. When the Tao is in balance it is possible to find perfect happiness.

3. Yin Yang The Yin Yang symbol is the most common symbol that represents Taoism. The Yin and Yang symbol represents the balance of opposites in the universe, like male and female, night and day, cold and hot, etc.

4. doctrines To be in accordance with the Tao, the individual must empty himself of doctrines and knowledge, act with simplicity and humility, and above all seek Nature. Tao Te Ching Taoism was founded by Laozi, or Lao Tsu, in the sixth century BC. His teachings were passed down orally before they were compiled in the third century BC in a book called the "Classic of the Way and Its Power, or the Tao Te Ching." Sayings of the Tao “The Taoist sage has no ambitions, therefore he can never fail. He who never fails always succeeds. And he who always succeeds is all- powerful”. “Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much. Therefore they are rebellious”

5. The Buddha About 2500 years ago, a prince named Siddhartha Gautama began to question his sheltered, luxurious life in the palace. He left the palace and saw four sights: a sick man, an old man, a dead man and a monk. These sights are said to have shown him that even a prince cannot escape illness, suffering and death.  The sight of the monk told Siddhartha to leave his life as a prince and become a wandering holy man, seeking the answers to questions like: "Why must people suffer?" "What is the cause of suffering?"  Siddartha spent many years doing many religious practices such as praying, meditating, and fasting until he finally understood the basic truths of life.  This realization occurred after sitting under a Poplar-figtree in Bodh Gaya, India for many days, in deep meditation. He gained enlightenment, or nirvana, and was given the title of Buddha, which means Enlightened One.

6. Buddhism Buddah believed To do no evil; To cultivate good; To purify one's mind: This is the teaching of the Buddhas better to find some middle way between the extremes of the life of luxury and the life of self-mortification Buddah taught that: 1. Life is suffering; 2. Suffering is due to attachment; 3. Attachment can be overcome; 4. There is a path for accomplishing this.

7. Buddha Buddha believed in reincarnation, the idea that when you die you live again as something else. You become something, like an insect, animal, or human depending on how nice of a life you lived, or your Karma. Buddha felt you could stop being reincarnated over and over again if you followed a middle path, then you would reach Nirvana (ultimate enlightenment) and become one with the universe.

8. Confucianism Confucianism was created by a man named Confucius. His ideas and teachings were not really religious. There was no talk of God, or death. His ideas, or philosophies, dealt with morals and behaviors in law, life and government.

9. Confucius is famous for his philosophy because he made many wise sayings in ancient China. These ideas helped many people learn about nature, the world, and human behavior (how humans acted). He also helped the government and the emperor by teaching them lessons on how the emperor should rule his kingdom successfully.

10. Confucius taught others about his philosophies about life. His theories and principles were spread throughout China by his disciples, and soon many people learned from his wise sayings. Confucius himself had a simple moral and political teaching: to love others; to honor one's parents; to do what is right instead of what is of advantage; to practice "reciprocity," i.e. "don't do to others what you would not want yourself"; to rule by moral example instead of by force and violence; and so forth. Confucius thought that a ruler who had to resort to force had already failed as a ruler. Confucius did not put into writing the principles of his philosophy; these were handed down only through his disciples.

11. Famous Sayings of Confucius “It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family”. “The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions”. “If you enjoy what you do, you'll never work another day in your life”. “He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them”.