ABSTRACT
The reputed founder of Taoism, the second in the triad of State Religions In China, was Laotsze, the "old philosopher," so called because although a contemporary of Confucius he was older than that sage. The Taoist gods are innumerable, in most cases absurd, in some cases disgusting, but they are well suited to figure as objects of worship in the most abject of all the religions that the world has ever known. The priests are gowned in blue cotton with white bandages swathed round the legs from ankle to knee; they are divided into two classes, those who profess to be celibates and live in the temples, and those who dwell with their families and only wear the priestly dress when officiating. The practice of healing by prayer or incantation prevails all over China. Charms also play a large part in the Taoist methods of healing.
