History
Taoism has no one founder and no founding date; instead it grew
out of many religions and philosophical traditions in ancient China in the
4th and 3rd centuries BCE. Taoism became a semi-official Chinese religion in the Tang Dynasty and continued
in the Song Dynasty. It later became more of a religious tradition during the rise of
Confucianism. After the communist takeover of China, Taoism was banned and a
majority of its followers were re-educated (the result was over 90% of the
people who practiced Taoism stopping within 10 years). At this time, Taoism
flourished in Taiwan because of its greater freedom. At the end of the Cultural
Revolution in China, the government allowed for a small amount of religious
freedom, so Taoism began to revive.
out of many religions and philosophical traditions in ancient China in the
4th and 3rd centuries BCE. Taoism became a semi-official Chinese religion in the Tang Dynasty and continued
in the Song Dynasty. It later became more of a religious tradition during the rise of
Confucianism. After the communist takeover of China, Taoism was banned and a
majority of its followers were re-educated (the result was over 90% of the
people who practiced Taoism stopping within 10 years). At this time, Taoism
flourished in Taiwan because of its greater freedom. At the end of the Cultural
Revolution in China, the government allowed for a small amount of religious
freedom, so Taoism began to revive.
Regions
There are almost 20 million Taoist living in the world. Many reside in China, Taiwan, and other Southeast Asian countries,
although a few live in the western hemisphere.
although a few live in the western hemisphere.