History has shown that a key element in determining whether or not a civilization was great keenly depended on the religious or better yet spiritual involvement of its people. With over three thousand years of history; China has used Confucianism and Taoism to foster its people to expand their consciousness as it relates to self and others. However, in order to understand its existence, one first must understand the time in which it originated: The Age of Philosophy. .
It was during the Chou dynasty (1028-256 B.C) that the earliest philosophers, poets and historians were notice. It was during this period that China enjoyed an extraordinary period of the flowering of the human mind. All minds that were considered to be wise would propound theories and openly argue such ways. Each philosopher was seeking a prince who would put their way into practice. .
China's philosophical age was ushered in during a complex period of change and innovation. Most of the problems where related to economic and social force, which gave way ultimately to a prolonged period of thought and speculation to somehow address these problems with real life answers. Since most of the philosophers of that time considered all problems to be political. The objective in most of the philosopher's minds was how can we restore order and equilibrium to the city- state; an equilibrium which was keep in mind by many of the thinker but had been shattered by recent events. .
Chinese historian Szu-ma Ch"ien described that time as the foundation for the Hundred Schools. From among these schools emerged schools of Confucianism and Taoism. Now out of the Hundred School arose a teacher whom many considered to be China's greatest, Master K"ung or K"ung Fu-tzu better yet Confucius. Although he was an aristocratic descent, he lived a life a teacher. He would tutor in the area of arts, the Books of Documents and the Books of Songs to most of the sons of aristocratic men.