Ancient China & the Supreme Ruler ShangDi (上帝) Before Buddhism or Taoism, the earliest Chinese (Xia, Shang, Zhou) were monotheistic, worshiping ShangDi, the Creator of heaven and earth. Ancient prayers called Him Father, Potter, and Maker of all things — echoing Genesis and Isaiah long before the Bible reached China. Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, acted as an emperor-priest, offering a spotless bull to ShangDi on the Round Altar — with no idols or images. Centuries later, Taoist influences added o