HISTORY

Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy in China thousands of years ago. Its main text was estimated to be written in about 500 BCE by Lao Tzu. In 440 CE it was adopted as a state religion and became a religious faith. In the Ch’ing Dynasty 1911, the state support for Taoism ended. The next period of time was one of warlordism which destroyed much of the Taoist heritage. In 1949, with the Communist victory, religious freedom was severely restricted. Monks were put to manual labour and their number reduced to about 50 000 from the several million it had been by 1960. The temples were confiscated and the treasures in them plundered. Most of the remainder of Taoist heritage was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution from 1966-1976. Under Deng Xiao-ping, from 1982 to the present some religious tolerance and freedom was gained.