Purpose The purpose of the current research is to estimate the correlativity between religion and happiness Among Entrepreneurs of Transitional China. Design/methodology/approach Under the strategy of sequential—mixed methods, quantitative research facilitates qualitative research in this study. In the quantitative part, we obtained the data of the happiness index and religion tendency through the questionnaire survey, analyzed the correlativity between them before testing the hypothesis. In the part of qualitative research, we selected participants with different religions and interviewed them to explore the effects of different religions on happiness, and explain the intrinsic reasons. These two data are integrated in the part of depth analysis; that is to say, we use the qualitative result to verify and explain the quantitative result. Findings The conclusion of this research can be expressed as follow: Christianity is positively correlated with happiness; Confucianism is negatively correlated with happiness; Buddhism is positively correlated with happiness and Taoism is positively correlated with happiness. Research limitations/implications Because the survey area is limited to the eastern coastal provinces and the participants are belong to the social elite during the special historical period, so the representativeness is limited, and the conclusion remains to be tested and improved in the future research. Practical implications The significance of the research on management practice is mainly reflected in two aspects: the exploration on the management philosophy and the sublimation of the management practice. Management is not only the shape building of the organization, but also the construction of metaphysical system. Social implications In belief cognition, this study provides positive energy of spirit for the lost community and help people regain religious confidence. Providing data for enterprise organization to establish the culture oriented in people. Providing theoretical support for the state organization to establish the belief system and core value culture. Originality/value (1)Using scientific methods to metaphysical research. Psychological projective method was used in the questionnaire designing, and the application of traditional cultural allusions and religious ordinances can insure the validity and reliability of the result. (2)Extending the research scope of this topic to Chinese environment, it is not only a horizontal expansion, but also a vertical propulsion to the research topic. (3)The thesis puts forwards the theory of relationship between Chinese traditional religion and the happiness, and it is an effective complement and breakthrough to the existed theory (mainly focus on the relationship between Christianity and happiness). Keywords Religion,Happiness, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism