Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism are the three historical views of thought. In these philosophies and religions, there was competition. The followers of these philosophies and religions had contrasting viewpoints because the three philosophies and religions emphasize the opposite teachings. In Buddhism, a Buddhist’s life primarily consists of suffering and pain caused by harmful desires. To eliminate suffering and pain, desires must be eliminated. A Buddhist’s aim is towards enlightenment, a state that is free from pain and suffering. Confucianism is concerned with aspects in everyday life and focuses on the ethics system, while Taoism stresses how humanity should cope with nature. Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism present different beliefs and practices. Despite the contrast, there are also several similarities in the philosophies and religions because Taoism is deeply intertwined with Buddhism and Confucianism. Some Taoists freely adopted some of the practices in Buddhism and Confucianism; the three philosophies and religions share some of the same practices, for example, ancestor worship.
Ancestor worship, also known as veneration of the dead, is a form of ritual practice by many Chinese people. This ritual is also embraced in Africa, Egypt, and Rome; in such countries, ancestor worship is held differently due to the different cultural backgrounds, however, the main idea of this practice is to honor and respect family members who have passed away. Although the practice might be practiced differently, the idea remains the