Taoism Highlights:
Spirit of Taoism started at the existing of Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) at about 4800 years ago.
Dao/Taoism (Philosophy) a form of teaching on what is being nature and what are the aspect of nature being founded by Lao Zi at about 2500 years ago. This set the root of Taoism under the teaching of Lao Zi with the creation of "Dao De Jing (Scripture of Morality)"
Taoism being well-promoted by Master Zhang Dao Ling, born in Han Dynasty, at about 1800 years ago. Master Zhang reform Taoism, unite Taoism and set up the Zheng Yi School/Sect to pass-down the teaching of Taoism.
Lao Zi being respected as the Ancestor of the Li Family during the Tang Dynasty. This somehow helped Taoism to get popular and attrached followers.
In Song Dynasty, Emperors used Taoism as a form of "invisible weapon" to stable their thrones and influenced the thinking of folks.
Folks/Worshipping/Common Taoism began to be well-established when Imperial Characters used Taoism as a form of "pulling energy" to get folks to have faith in the Imperial doings.
Today, Super-nature Taoism has developed from the Folks Taoism (involved in consultation of mediums, using of super-nature weapons and great dependence of talisman, etc)