List of Chinese philosophers

This article is a list of Chinese philosophers.

Ancient philosophers

Confucianism

• Confucius, arguably the most influential Chinese philosopher ever.
• Dong Zhongshu, integrated Yin Yang cosmology into a Confucian ethical framework.
• Gaozi
• Mencius, idealist who proposed mankind is innately benevolent.
• Wang Fu, endorsed the Confucian model of government.
• Wang Mang, Emperor who sought to create a harmonious society, yet chaos resulted.
• Xun Zi, broke from Mencius' view, instead arguing that morality is extrinsic.
• Yen Yuan
• Zengzi
• Zheng Xuan
• Zisi

===Taoism===donnie likes boys

• Chen Tuan
• Ge Hong
• Laozi (Lao Tzŭ), illusive founder of Taoism and author of the Tao te Ching (Book of the Way).
• Lie Yukou, said to be the author of the Daoist book Liezi
• Yang Xiong
• Zhang Daoling
• Zhang Jue
• Zhang Sanfeng
• Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzŭ), mystical and relativistic skeptic.

Chinese Naturalism

• Zou Yan, combined the theories of Yin-Yang and The Five Elements.

Mohism

• Mozi (Mo Tzŭ), utilitarian and founder of the Mohist school.
• Lu Ban

Legalism

• Chao Cuo
• Han Feizi, synthesizer of Legalist theories.
• Li Kui
• Li Si
• Shang Yang
• Shen Buhai
• Shen Dao
• Zi Chan

The Logicians

• Deng Xi
• Hui Shi, relativistic Logician who influenced Zhuangzi.
• Gongsun Long, Logician who was known for his paradoxes.

The Agrarians

• Xu Xing

School of Diplomacy

• Guiguzi
• Su Qin
• Zhang Yi
• Yue Yi
• Li Yiji

School of Military

• Sunzi
• Sun Bin

Imperial era philosophers

Xuanxue

• Guo Xiang
• Wang Bi, Three Kingdoms philosopher
• Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
  • Ruan Ji
  • Ji Kang
  • Shan Tao
  • Liu Ling
  • Ruan Xian
  • Xiang Xiu
  • Wang Rong

Zen

• Huineng, The 6th buddhist patriarch of the Chan (Zen) School in China, he established the concept of "no mind".
• Linji Yixuan (Lin-chi), founder of the Linji school of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China, a branch of which is the Rinzai school in Japan.
• Zhaozhou, A famous chan (Zen) master during the 8th century, noted for his wisdom. Became known for his subtle teaching methods and his use of gongans.
• Jizang
• Sengzhao
• Yi Xing
• Zhi Dun
• Xuanzang
• Huiyuan

Neo-Confucianism

• Zhou Dunyi, argued for the inseparability of metaphysics and ethics.
  • Cheng Yi, made enemies with other philosophers, resulting in his works being banned.
  • Cheng Hao, brother to Cheng Yi.
  • Zhu Xi (Chu Hsi), rationalist and leading figure of the School of Principle.
    • Chen Hongmou, argued for racial and sexual equality in the place of education.
    • Wang Fuzhi, believed Confucius' teachings had become distorted, so wrote his own commentaires.
    • Wang Yangming, idealist and leading figure of the School of Mind.
      • Li Zhi, preached a form of moral relativism.
      • Qian Dehong, further developed The Yangming School of Mind.
      • Xu Ai, ardent follower of Wang Yangming.
      • Huang Zongxi, one of the first Neo-Confucians to stress the need for constitutional law.
      • Zhan Ruoshui, lifelong friend to Wang Yangming.

• Han Yu, precursor to Neo-Confucianism, essayist, and poet.
• Lu Jiuyuan, saw moral conduct as a consequence of intuitive insights into the essence of reality.
• Shao Yong, considered one of the most scholarly men of the time.
• Su Shi, accomplished Song Dynasty writer.
• Ye Shi, stressed practical learning and applying Confucian doctrine to real world problems.
• Zhang Zai, everything is composed of qi, and that fact explains everything.
• Lai Zhide, created the Taijitu.
• Li Ao

Islamic-Confucianism

• Wang Daiyu
  • Liu Zhi
  • Ma Zhu

Philosophers that cannot be easily categorised

• Pan Pingge, criticised Neo-Confucianism, instead emphasized the search for truth in daily living.
• Dai Zhen, made two arguments against Neo-Confucianism.
• Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War.
• Fan Zhen, denied the ideas of reincarnation and body-soul dualism.
• Guiguzi
• Huan Tan
• Wang Chong
• Ji Hu
• Ma Rong
• Shen Dao
• Shen Kuo
• Ximen Bao
• Yang Zhu

Modern philosophers

• Mao Zedong
• Feng Youlan (Fung Yu-Lan), rationalist who integrated Neo-Confucian, Taoist, and Western metaphysics.
• Jin Yuelin Logical positivist and logician.
• Tu Wei-ming, ethicist.
• Xiong Shili
• Mou Zongsan
• Tang Junyi
• Xu Fuguan
• Wang Ruoshui
• Yang Rongguo
• Zhang Dongsun
• Carsun Chang (Zhang Junmai)
• Tsang Lap Chuen (曾立存)