Zoroastrianism

Jainism

Taoism

Buddhism

Confucianism

Year

600 BCE

556 BCE

550 BCE

531 BCE

500 BCE

Country

Iran

India

China

India

China

Prophet / Founder

Zoroaster

(Zarathustra)

Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara

Lao Tzu

Siddhartha Gautama

K'ung-fu-tzu

(Confucius)

Followers

2.6 Million

4.2 M

20 M

360 M

6 M

Ahimsa

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Theistic

Monotheistic: Ahura Mazda

No

No

No

No

Karma

No

Yes

Silent

Yes

No

Rein-carnation

No

Yes

Silent

Yes

No

Gender equality

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Called a "philosophy"

No

Sometimes

Yes

Sometimes

Yes