2. The Shang believed in an afterlife Their dead ancestors had spirits and could help or hurt the living They used oracle bones to tell the future and communicate with their ancestors

3. When the Zhou overthrew the Shang they had to convince people they had authority so they claimed a mandate of heaven Heaven told them they had to rule and if they were good people they would stay in power

4. The Mandate of Heaven is based on four principles: The right to rule is granted by Heaven. There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler. The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler. The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty, others can take over if they are better.

5. Confucius founded this religion or way of life Focused on good behavior, principles taught through short sayings “Do not do unto others, what you would not want others to do to you”

6. Lao-Tzu founded it Taoism means the “way to happiness” (more of a philosophy than a religion) Taoism teaches to meditate and see things as they really are