In the winter semester of 2000/2001, the Interdisciplinary Working Group on East Asia and Southeast Asia, together with the working group on Buddhist Chinese and the Studium Generale of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, organized the lecture series on Chinese Religion and Philosophy. The majority of the lectures given at that time form the foundation of the volume that launches the new series East Asia Intercultural Studies. Fundamental overviews provide an initial introduction to East Asian thought, focusing on the three most significant schools of ancient China: the ethics of Confucius, the religious attitudes of the Mohists, and philosophical as well as spiritual Daoism. The Chinese intellectual life was enriched by Buddhism, which added an Indian dimension. Additionally, aspects of the interreligious competition between Confucianism and Daoism are included.