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'''Chinese philosophy'''  has a history of several thousand years; its origins are often traced back to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching Yi Jing] (the ''Book of Changes''), an [[ancient]] compendium of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination divination], which introduced some of the most fundamental terms of Chinese philosophy. Its age can only be estimated (its first flowering is generally considered to have been in about the 6th century BC. Antony Flew & Stephen Priest, ''A Dictionary of Philosophy''. Pan Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0-330-48730-2., but it draws on an oracular [[tradition]] that goes back to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic neolithic] times.

'''Chinese philosophy'''  has a history of several thousand years; its origins are often traced back to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching Yi Jing] (the ''Book of Changes''), an [[ancient]] compendium of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination divination], which introduced some of the most fundamental terms of Chinese philosophy. Its age can only be estimated (its first flowering is generally considered to have been in about the 6th century BC. Antony Flew & Stephen Priest, ''A Dictionary of Philosophy''. Pan Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0-330-48730-2., but it draws on an oracular [[tradition]] that goes back to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic neolithic] times.

The ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' (''Dào dé jīng'', in pinyin romanisation) of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_Tzu Lao Tzu] (''Lǎo zǐ'') Lao Tze (Laozi) Stephen Hodge, ''Tao Te Ching'' ISBN 0-7641-2168-5 and the ''Analects'' of Confucius'' Kǒng fū zǐ''; sometimes called ''Master Kong''"Confucius", Kung Fu Tz, D. C. Lau ''The Analects''Penguin Classics ISBN 0-14-044348-7 both appeared around 600 BCE, about the time that the Greek [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre_Socratics pre-Socratics] were writing.

The ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' (''Dào dé jīng'', in pinyin romanisation) of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_Tzu Lao Tzu] (''Lǎo zǐ'') Lao Tze (Laozi) Stephen Hodge, ''Tao Te Ching'' ISBN 0-7641-2168-5 and the ''Analects'' of Confucius'' Kǒng fū zǐ''; sometimes called ''Master Kong''"Confucius", Kung Fu Tz, D. C. Lau ''The Analects''Penguin Classics ISBN 0-14-044348-7 both appeared around 600 BCE, about the time that the Greek [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre_Socratics pre-Socratics] were writing.

[[Confucianism]] represents the collected teachings of the Chinese sage Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 BCE. His philosophy [[focused]] in the fields of [[ethics]] and [[politics]], emphasizing personal and governmental [[morality]], correctness of social [[relationships]], [[justice]], traditionalism, and [[sincerity]]. Confucianism, along with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism_%28Chinese_philosophy%29 Legalism], is responsible for creating the world’s first meritocracy, which holds that one's status should be determined by [[ability]] instead of [[ancestry]], [[wealth]], or friendships. "Confucius" [[Confucianism]] was and continue to be a major [[influence]] in Chinese culture, the state of China and the surrounding areas of Southeast Asia.

[[Confucianism]] represents the collected teachings of the Chinese sage Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 BCE. His philosophy [[focused]] in the fields of [[ethics]] and [[politics]], emphasizing personal and governmental [[morality]], correctness of social [[relationships]], [[justice]], traditionalism, and [[sincerity]]. Confucianism, along with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism_%28Chinese_philosophy%29 Legalism], is responsible for creating the world’s first meritocracy, which holds that one's status should be determined by [[ability]] instead of [[ancestry]], [[wealth]], or friendships. "Confucius" [[Confucianism]] was and continue to be a major [[influence]] in Chinese culture, the state of China and the surrounding areas of Southeast Asia.

Throughout history, Chinese philosophy has been molded to fit the prevailing schools of [[thought]] and circumstances in China. The Chinese schools of philosophy, except during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism_%28Chinese_philosophy%29Qin_Dynasty Qin Dynasty], can be both critical and yet relatively tolerant of one another. Even when one particular school of thought is officially adopted by the ruling [[bureaucracy]], as in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty Han Dynasty], there may be no move to ban or [[censor]] other schools of thought. Despite and because of the [[debates]] and [[competition]], they generally have cooperated and shared ideas, which they would usually incorporate with their own. For example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_Confucianism Neo-Confucianism] was a revived version of old Confucian principles that appeared around the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Dynasty Song Dynasty], with Buddhist, Taoist, and Legalist features in the religion.  

Throughout history, Chinese philosophy has been molded to fit the prevailing schools of [[thought]] and circumstances in China. The Chinese schools of philosophy, except during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism_%28Chinese_philosophy%29Qin_Dynasty Qin Dynasty], can be both critical and yet relatively tolerant of one another. Even when one particular school of thought is officially adopted by the ruling [[bureaucracy]], as in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty Han Dynasty], there may be no move to ban or [[censor]] other schools of thought. Despite and because of the [[debates]] and [[competition]], they generally have cooperated and shared ideas, which they would usually incorporate with their own. For example, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_Confucianism Neo-Confucianism] was a revived version of old Confucian principles that appeared around the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Dynasty Song Dynasty], with Buddhist, Taoist, and Legalist features in the religion.  

During the Industrial and [[Modern]] Ages, Chinese philosophy had also began to [[integrate]] concepts of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_philosophy Western philosophy], as steps toward modernization. By the time of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinhai_revolution Xinhai Revolution] in 1911, there were many calls to completely abolish the old [[imperial]] institutions and practices of China.  There have been attempts to incorporate [[democracy]], republicanism, and industrialism into Chinese philosophy, notably by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat_Sen Sun Yat-Sen] (''Sūn yì xiān'', in one Mandarin form of the name) at the beginning of the 20th century. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Tse_Tung Mao Tse-Tung] added [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism Marxism] and other communist thought. The government of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_China People's Republic of China] encourage [[Socialism]] with Chinese characteristics. Although, officially, it does not encourage some of the philosophical [[practices]] of Imperial China, the influences of past are still deeply ingrained in the Chinese [[culture]]. As in Japan, philosophy in China has become a melting pot of [[ideas]]. It accepts new [[concepts]], while attempting also to accord old beliefs their due.

During the Industrial and [[Modern]] Ages, Chinese philosophy had also began to [[integrate]] concepts of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_philosophy Western philosophy], as steps toward modernization. By the time of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinhai_revolution Xinhai Revolution] in 1911, there were many calls to completely abolish the old [[imperial]] institutions and practices of China.  There have been attempts to incorporate [[democracy]], republicanism, and industrialism into Chinese philosophy, notably by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat_Sen Sun Yat-Sen] (''Sūn yì xiān'', in one Mandarin form of the name) at the beginning of the 20th century. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Tse_Tung Mao Tse-Tung] added [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism Marxism] and other communist thought. The government of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_China People's Republic of China] encourage [[Socialism]] with Chinese characteristics. Although, officially, it does not encourage some of the philosophical [[practices]] of Imperial China, the influences of past are still deeply ingrained in the Chinese [[culture]]. As in Japan, philosophy in China has become a melting pot of [[ideas]]. It accepts new [[concepts]], while attempting also to accord old beliefs their due.

''Chinese philosophy'' has spread around the world in forms such as the ''New Confucianism'' and [[New Age]] ideas such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_traditional_medicine Chinese traditional medicine].  Many in the [[academic]] community of the West remain [[skeptical]], and only a few assimilate Chinese philosophy into their own [[research]], whether scientific or philosophical. However, it still carries profound influence amongst the people of East Asia, and Southeast Asia.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy]

''Chinese philosophy'' has spread around the world in forms such as the ''New Confucianism'' and [[New Age]] ideas such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_traditional_medicine Chinese traditional medicine].  Many in the [[academic]] community of the West remain [[skeptical]], and only a few assimilate Chinese philosophy into their own [[research]], whether scientific or philosophical. However, it still carries profound influence amongst the people of East Asia, and Southeast Asia.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Chinese Philosophy]]

[[Category: Chinese Philosophy]]