During 300 B.C. the philosophy of Taoism began and in 100 B.C. the religion began. Taoism was started as a reaction against Confucianism. The founder of Taoism was Lao-Tse who lived from 604 to 531 BCE. Taoism was finally made a state religion in 440 CE. After that it became one of the top three religions in China along with Buddhism and Confucianism. After the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911 the state stopped supporting Taoism. In the years between 1966 and 1976 during the Cultural Revolution Taoist heritage was destroyed.

With the help of Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 till now in 2002 some heritage has returned. In the center of Taiwan there are approximately twenty million Taoists, about thirty thousand in North America, and one thousand one hundred twenty in Canada from 1991. Places in North America involved in ''acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, meditation and martial arts'' have been greatly greatly affected by Taoism. The first cause of the universe is Tao. It is the force that flows through all life. Taoist believers' goal is to become one with the Tao. The dark side, Yin, is the breath that formed earth. Yang, the light side, is the breath that formed the heavens. Tao surrounds everything and everyone and they must listen to find enlightenment. The main interest of Taoists is promoting great health and to live a long life. They believe that everyone is compassionate by nature. That is why Taoists are so very kind to everyone and everything.