The religion practiced by the people in Ancient China evolved over
the centuries as the emperor and the dynasties kept changing. In
the earliest period known, many different gods, including weather
and sky gods along with a higher god who ruled all other gods known
as Shang Ti were worshiped. It was also believed that when the parents
and grandparents died they too became gods and wanted to be worshipped.
Hence, each family worshipped their ancestors.
Around 600 BC, the philosophy of Taoism became very popular according
to which people should not try and get their way by force but rather
through compromises and using the natural forces in their favor.
A little later, the philosophy of Confucianism gained huge popularity
which disagreed with Taoism. As per Confucianism people should do
their duty by following their leaders and gods faithfully. People
who followed this philosophy believed that order was the way to
peace and if everyone did as they were told and what they were supposed
to do, then there would not be any fighting and nobody would get
upset.
These new philosophies however did not change the belief of the
people in the ancient practices and the people of ancient China
continued to worship their gods and ancestors firmly believing in
the mandate of heaven.
