ReligionsReligionsThere are 3 major Chinese religions.
Taoism teaches people that everyone is as important as each other and that people should live in harmony together and in harmony with nature. It is said that Taoism was founded by Laotzu, a man who was born around 604 BC. But some people doubt that he ever existed. Taoism became a religion in about 143 BC.
China now has over 1,500 Taoist temples and more than 25,000 Taoist priests and nuns
Buddhism is another of the main religions in China.
Buddhists respect all forms of animal life, including insects.
Buddhists
eat only fruit and vegetables.
a reclining Buddha image in a temple in Shanghai
Buddhism began in India and developed in China from 300 - 600 AD.
Hundreds of years later, 
Buddhist monks went to India and returned
with Buddhist writings which they translated into Chinese.
a Chinese Buddhist monk at the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai
Confucianism is not really a religion. It is the teachings of Confucius, a man who lived around 551 BC. Confucianism teaches people to behave well, to be unselfish, and to respect parents, ancestors and old people.
There are also Chinese Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Acknowledge this
source in your bibliography like this:
China
(2001).
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updated November 2006
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