Although in the course of its development, Daoism split into many sects, yet all the sects held that “Dao” (way) was their core belief and deduced from “Dao” the respective beliefs of their sects. They all considered “Dao” (way) the highest belief of Daoism, Dao (way) is the only essence and the origin of all things in the universe; and Dao exists eternally transcending time and space. Also they all considered Master Lao the incarnation of “Dao”. From “Dao” evolves numerous heavenly deities, earthly deities and humans and spirits. Also, they all considered that “Dao” could be attained through practicing Daoism. Through practicing the Daoist arts, Daoist arts, Daoism might combine itself with immortality and the practicing persons might attain “Dao” (way). Fourthly, they considered that the persons who attained “Dao” (way) might possess various charismatic powers, might keep on living eternally and might become an immortal.
　　Of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism, the three major religions in China, Daoism arose the latest. Since its founding Daoism was related to and was maintained in contact with Confucianism and Buddhism. During the Han-Wei period and the Western-Eastern Jin Dynasties Confucianism still held the predominant status. Buddhism had a less strong foothold, yet it displayed a powerful vitality on account of its combination of religion and philosophy. The later Daoism was fairly immature either organizationally or philosophy. The later Daoism was fairly immature either organizationally or philosophically. In order to overcome its immaturity, it had to learn from Confucianism and especially from Buddhism, for the latter was a model with a high religious quality. Without this model, the founding and development of Daoism was hardly imaginable.

　
　　The pursuit for “immortality” of the ancient Chinese influenced Daoism greatly. The “immortal deity” that had an eternal life and had some charisma was their ideal. The core of Daoism was that the human could become an “immortal deity” through Daoist practices. Some historical records showed that prior to Daoism, some ancient Chinese already pursued “immortality” in different ways. The “Canon of Mountains and Seas” contained legends of people seeking the “elixir” and the “immortal person”. The “Records of the Historian” recorded that as early as in the Warring States Period. King Wei of Qi Kingdom and King Zhao of Yan Kingdom both sent people to voyage on the sea in search of elixir and immortals.
　　The pursuits of ancient Chinese after immortality actually reflected the human mentality of longing for a free and unfettered life (principally longevity and competence). Such human behaviors also contributed to the final establishment of the Daoist doctrine of the pursuit of immortality.