philosophy and psychology but was later turned into a state religion in 440 CE. Lao-Tse was later established as a deity.
             In 1911, support for Taoism had disappeared and with the communist victory in 1949 there was very little room for religious freedom.
             Taoism has many sects and groups that have been influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism. Taoism is still practiced in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong although the current government has made attempts to suppress it.
             The Taoist beliefs are that there is no god and that Tao is a force that flows. There are no personified beliefs in Taoism and they do not pray to a god. They seek out life's problems through meditation and observation. Much like Hinduism, time is cyclical. There are five organs of the earth water, fire, wood, metal and earth. Lao-Tse developed "Yin" and "Yang" which are two competing energies found in all things which must be "balanced."
             There are two different denominations of Taoism, Ortodoxes and Spirit Claud Taoists. Ortodoxes are Tao masters and Black Headed Taoists. They stress the importance of rituals, cosmic renewal, and controlling spirits. Spirit Claud Taoists are Masters of Methods or Headed Taoists they concentrate on meditation, not rituals.
             There is not a specific number of Taoists in the world. It's hard to find the exact number of Taoists because at one time a person in China could be a Buddhist, a Taoist and a Confucian. The main concentration of Taoists are in China and Taiwan.
             Shinto was started about 500 CE or earlier.
             The Shinto people believe in nature deities, Buddha was regarded as one of these deities. There was a divine couple, Izanagi and Izanami who gave birth to the Japanese Islands. Their children became the deities of the various Japanese clans. The Sun Goddess is regarded as the chief deity. There are "four affirmations" in Shinto. Tradition and Family, Love of Nature, Physical Cleanliness and Matsuri. Matsuri is ...