Taoism originated around the 4th century BCE in China with the teachings of Laozi, while Buddhism was founded in the 5th century BCE in India by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. Therefore, Taoism predates Buddhism by a few centuries.
Taoism focuses on living in harmony with the Tao, which is understood as the fundamental principle that is the source of all existence. In contrast, Buddhism is centered on the quest for enlightenment and the understanding of suffering through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. While both philosophies share some similarities in terms of ethics and practices, they originate from different cultural and historical contexts.