How do chinese philosophies differ from Hinduism and Buddhism?

Confucianism is a political philosophy originated in ancient China. It mainly deals with social order, hierarchy and social stability in a kingdom, not with the salvation of human soul or spiritual perfection. It isn't a religion, like Hinduism, or a philosophy of personal enlightenment, like Buddhism.

Daoism is another major religious-philosophical Chinese tradition. It shows a positive attitude toward the occult and the metaphysical. The term "Daoism" comes from the word "dao", which means "the way", but it has other meanings. There is a Cosmic Dao, a principle that contains all things and generates the Universe through rythmic fluctuations. Humankind can only be happy if it is in agreement with that natural order of things. Daoism admits the existence of many deities and it mixes with ancient Chinese folk beliefs.

Buddhism is not a religion but rather a philosophy that proposes the mind's liberation of anguish, pain, suffering, wants by the individual's efforts aimed at spiritual perfection. By reaching nirvana, a state of absolute mind peace and spiritual awakening, a person overcomes the cycles or rebirth and reincarnation. There is no God as it is understood in Christian tradition.

Hinduism proposes different paths to spiritual liberation. It also has numerous deities - thousands of them - to whom people worship. It is a complex religion and it is associated with some historical social practices; its critics argue it originated the system of castes and deep social discrimination in India.