List of Chinese philosophers

Chinese philosophers include:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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.
• Xunzi, broke from Mencius' view, instead arguing that morality is extrinsic.
• Yan Hui, the favorite disciple of Confucius and one of the most revered figures of Confucianism.
• Zengzi
• Zheng Xuan
• Zisi
• Zhu Xi
• List of Confucianists

Daoism

• 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
• Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzŭ), mystical and relativistic skeptic.
• List of Taoists

Chinese School of Naturalists and 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

• Guan Zhong, whose reforms made him disparagingly identified as Legalist, but actual philosophy did not develop until hundred years later.
• Chao Cuo
• Han Feizi, synthesizer of Legalist theories.
• Li Kui
• Li Si
• Shang Yang
• Shen Buhai
• Shen Dao
• Zi Chan

Yangism

• Yang Zhu

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

• Sun Tzu
• Sun Bin

Imperial era philosophers

Xuanxue

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

Chan Buddhism

• Huineng, 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, 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
• Liu Zongzhou – considered the last master of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism.

Islamic-Confucianism

• Wang Daiyu
  • Liu Zhi
  • Ma Zhu

Kaozheng Evidential Research

• Wang Fuzhi
• Gu Yanwu
• Yan Yuan
• Dai Zhen
• Duan Yucai
• Ji Xiaolan
• Zhang Xuecheng
• Ruan Yuan
• Kang Youwei
• Tan Sitong
• Hong Liangji

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.
• Fan Zhen, denied the ideas of reincarnation and body-soul dualism.
• Huan Tan
• Wang Chong
• Ma Rong
• Shen Kuo
• Ximen Bao

Modern philosophers

• Feng Youlan (Fung Yu-Lan), rationalist who integrated Neo-Confucian, Taoist, and Western metaphysics.
• Jin Yuelin, logical positivist and logician.
• Tu Weiming, ethicist.
• Xiong Shili
• Ma Yifu
• Mou Zongsan
• Tang Junyi
• Xu Fuguan
• Zhang Dongsun
• Carsun Chang (Zhang Junmai)
• Zhou Guoping
• Tsang Lap Chuen (曾立存)

Chinese Marxist Philosophy

• Mao Zedong
• Deng Xiaoping
• Wang Ruoshui
• Li Da
• Ai Siqi
• Chen Duxiu
• Qu Qiubai
• Xi Jinping
• Yang Xianzhen
• Yang Rongguo
• Zhang Shiying