Among the five major existing religions in China (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism), Taoism is the only one originating here. Formed in the second century during the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), its religious belief can be actually traced back to the remote antiquity. For this very reason, it has kept a widespread and far-reaching influence upon the Chinese people across the world.
Claiming to establish a state of peace and prosperity described in the book, both the Supreme Peace Sect (Taiping) founded by the three brothers Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang and the Five Bushels of Rice Sect (Wudoumi) by Zhang Daoling thus won wide support from peasants.