Daoism (or Taoism) is a polytheistic faith that also accepts the gods and goddesses of Chinese folk religion. Its founder is said to be Lao Tzu, who was born in 604 BCE. Some of Lao Tzu's philosophical and moral writings survived, in a collection called Dao de Jing (Tao Te Ching). The Daozang (Treasury of Dao), sometimes referred to as the "Daoist canon", was compiled during the Jin, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, and includes almost 1500 texts.
Daoism is not a belief-centred religion, so there are no known Daoist creeds, however certain characteristic beliefs or assumptions can be understood. Gods are not invariably benevolent, but generally on the side of righteousness. A fundamental assumption is the efficacy of ritual in maintaining a positive relationship with the gods and other spirit beings.
Daoist priests are well known for their ability to communicate with the spirits and thereby interpret the future. In China, even the followers of Buddhism will sometimes consult a Daoist priest for this purpose.
For some, Daoism can be seen as a philosophy rather than a religion; as a way of reading Daoist texts and interpreting them in philosophical terms. The assumptions that this approach rests on (such as the difference between philosophy and religion) are foreign to classical Chinese thought and are unlikely to have been held by early Daoist thinkers.
Daoism emphasises virtue, justice and the common good.