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'''Chinese philosophy''' is [[philosophy]] written in the [[China|Chinese]] [[Chinese culture|tradition]] of thought. Chinese philosophy has a history of several thousand years; its origins are often traced back to the [[I Ching|Yi Jing]] (the ''Book of Changes''), an ancient compendium of [[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 [[neolithic]] times.

'''Chinese philosophy''' is [[philosophy]] written in the [[China|Chinese]] [[Chinese culture|tradition]] of thought. Chinese philosophy has a history of several thousand years; its origins are often traced back to the [[I Ching|Yi Jing]] (the ''Book of Changes''), an ancient compendium of [[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 [[neolithic]] times.

The ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' (''Dào dé jīng'', in [[pinyin]] romanisation) of [[Laozi|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</ref> both appeared around 600 BCE, about the time that the Greek pre-Socratics were writing.

The ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' (''Dào dé jīng'', in [[pinyin]] romanisation) of [[Laozi|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 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 [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|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 [[History of China|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 [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|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 [[History of China|China]] and the surrounding areas of Southeast Asia.

=== Hundred Schools of Thought ===

=== Hundred Schools of Thought ===

In around 500 BC, after the Zhou state weakened and China moved in to the [[Spring and Autumn Period]], the classic period of Chinese philosophy began (it is an interesting fact that this date nearly coincides with the emergence of the first [[Greek philosophers]]). This is known as  the [[Hundred Schools of Thought]] (諸子百家; ''zhūzǐ bǎijiā''; "various philosophers hundred schools"). Of the many schools founded at this time and during the subsequent [[Warring States Period]], the four most influential ones were [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism|Daoism]] (often spelled "Taoism"), [[Mohism]] and [[Legalism (philosophy)|Legalism]].

In around 500 BC, after the Zhou state weakened and China moved in to the [[Spring and Autumn Period]], the classic period of Chinese philosophy began (it is an interesting fact that this date nearly coincides with the emergence of the first [[Greek philosophers]]). This is known as  the [[Hundred Schools of Thought]] (諸子百家; ''zhūzǐ bǎijiā''; "various philosophers hundred schools"). Of the many schools founded at this time and during the subsequent [[Warring States Period]], the four most influential ones were [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism|Daoism]] (often spelled "Taoism"), [[Mohism]] and [[Legalism (philosophy)|Legalism]].

== Main Schools of Thought ==

== Main Schools of Thought ==

=== Confucianism ===

=== Confucianism ===

[[Image:Confucius Statue at the Confucius Temple.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kong Fuzi ([[Latin Language|Latin]]: [[Confucius]])]]

[[Image:Confucius3.jpg|right|frame]]

Confucianism is a philosophical school developed from the teachings of the sage [[Confucius]] (Kongzi 孔子, 551 &ndash; 479 [[Common Era|BC]]), collected in the ''[[Analects of Confucius]]''. It is a system of [[morality|moral]], [[social philosophy|social]], [[politics|political]], and [[religion|religious]] thought that has had tremendous influence on Chinese history, thought, and culture down to the 21st century. Some Westerners have considered it to have been the "[[state religion]]" of [[imperial China]]. Its influence also spread to Korea and Japan.

Confucianism is a philosophical school developed from the teachings of the sage [[Confucius]] (Kongzi 孔子, 551 &ndash; 479 [[Common Era|BC]]), collected in the ''[[Analects of Confucius]]''. It is a system of [[morality|moral]], [[social philosophy|social]], [[politics|political]], and [[religion|religious]] thought that has had tremendous influence on Chinese history, thought, and culture down to the 21st century. Some Westerners have considered it to have been the "[[state religion]]" of [[imperial China]]. Its influence also spread to Korea and Japan.

==== Neo-Confucianism ====

==== Neo-Confucianism ====

 

Despite Confucianism losing popularity to Taoism and Buddhism, [[Neo-Confucianism]] combined those ideas into a more [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] framework. Its concepts include ''li'' (principle, akin to [[Plato]]'s [[Theory of forms|forms]]), ''qi'' (vital or material force), ''[[taiji]]'' (the Great Ultimate), and ''xin'' (mind).

Despite Confucianism losing popularity to Taoism and Buddhism, [[Neo-Confucianism]] combined those ideas into a more [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] framework. Its concepts include ''li'' (principle, akin to [[Plato]]'s [[Theory of forms|forms]]), ''qi'' (vital or material force), ''[[taiji]]'' (the Great Ultimate), and ''xin'' (mind).

=== Taoism ===

=== Taoism ===

[[Image:SFEC BritMus Asia 021.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Chinese [[glaze]]d [[stoneware]] statue of a [[Taoist]] deity, from the [[Ming Dynasty]], 16th century.]]

[[Image:Lao-tzu-taoism-1-.jpg|right|frame]]

{{Main|Taoism}}see also [[Xuanxue]]

Taoism (Daoism) is a philosophy and religion based on the texts the ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' (Dào Dé Jīng; ascribed to [[Laozi]]) and the ''[[Zhuangzi]]'' (partly ascribed to [[Zhuangzi]]). The character ''[[Tao]]'' 道 (''Dao'') literally means "path" or "way". All major Chinese philosophical schools have investigated the correct ''Way'' to go about a moral life, but in Taoism it takes on the most abstract meanings, leading this school to be named after it. It advocated nonaction (''wu wei''), the strength of weakness, spontaneity, and relativism. Although it serves as a rival to Confucianism, a school of active morality, this rivalry is compromised and given perspective by the idiom "practise Confucianism on the outside, Taoism on the inside."  

Taoism (Daoism) is a philosophy and religion based on the texts the ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' (Dào Dé Jīng; ascribed to [[Laozi]]) and the ''[[Zhuangzi]]'' (partly ascribed to [[Zhuangzi]]). The character ''[[Tao]]'' 道 (''Dao'') literally means "path" or "way". All major Chinese philosophical schools have investigated the correct ''Way'' to go about a moral life, but in Taoism it takes on the most abstract meanings, leading this school to be named after it. It advocated nonaction (''wu wei''), the strength of weakness, spontaneity, and relativism. Although it serves as a rival to Confucianism, a school of active morality, this rivalry is compromised and given perspective by the idiom "practise Confucianism on the outside, Taoism on the inside."  

But its main motto is: "If one must rule, rule young"

But its main motto is: "If one must rule, rule young"

=== Legalism ===

=== Legalism ===

 

Legalism is a [[pragmatic]] [[political philosophy]] synthesized by [[Han Fei]]. With an essential principle like "when the epoch changed, the ways changed", it upholds the [[rule of law]] and is thus a theory of [[jurisprudence]].

Legalism is a [[pragmatic]] [[political philosophy]] synthesized by [[Han Fei]]. With an essential principle like "when the epoch changed, the ways changed", it upholds the [[rule of law]] and is thus a theory of [[jurisprudence]].

=== Buddhism ===

=== Buddhism ===

[[Image:Chang Sheng-wen 001.jpg|thumb|right|230px|''The [[Sakyamuni]] [[Buddha]]'', by artist Zhang Shengwen, [[1173]]-[[1176]] AD, [[Song Dynasty]].]]

[[Image:AvalokitaS.jpg|right|frame]]

[[Buddhism]] is a [[religion]], a [[practical philosophy]], and arguably a [[psychology]], focusing on the teachings of [[Gautama Buddha]], who lived on the [[Indian subcontinent]] most likely from the mid-[[6th century BC|6th]] to the early [[5th century BC|5th century BCE]]. When used in a generic sense, a [[Buddha]] is generally considered to be someone who discovers the true [[Reality in Buddhism|nature of reality]].

[[Buddhism]] is a [[religion]], a [[practical philosophy]], and arguably a [[psychology]], focusing on the teachings of [[Gautama Buddha]], who lived on the [[Indian subcontinent]] most likely from the mid-[[6th century BC|6th]] to the early [[5th century BC|5th century BCE]]. When used in a generic sense, a [[Buddha]] is generally considered to be someone who discovers the true [[Reality in Buddhism|nature of reality]].

=== Mohism ===

=== Mohism ===

Mohism (Moism), founded by [[Mozi]], promotes [[universal love]] with the aim of mutual benefit. Everyone must love each other equally and impartially to avoid conflict and war. Mozi was strongly against Confucian ritual, instead emphasizing [[pragmatism|pragmatic]] survival through farming, [[fortification]], and [[statecraft]]. Tradition is inconsistent, and human beings need an extra-traditional guide to identify which traditions are acceptable. The moral guide must then promote and encourage social behaviors that maximize general benefit. As motivation for his theory, Mozi brought in the ''Will of Heaven'', but rather than being religious his philosophy parallels [[utilitarianism]].

Mohism (Moism), founded by [[Mozi]], promotes [[universal love]] with the aim of mutual benefit. Everyone must love each other equally and impartially to avoid conflict and war. Mozi was strongly against Confucian ritual, instead emphasizing [[pragmatism|pragmatic]] survival through farming, [[fortification]], and [[statecraft]]. Tradition is inconsistent, and human beings need an extra-traditional guide to identify which traditions are acceptable. The moral guide must then promote and encourage social behaviors that maximize general benefit. As motivation for his theory, Mozi brought in the ''Will of Heaven'', but rather than being religious his philosophy parallels [[utilitarianism]].

==== Logicians ====

==== Logicians ====

The logicians (School of Names) were concerned with logic, paradoxes, names and actuality (similar to Confucian rectification of names). The logician [[Hui Shi]] was a friendly rival to [[Zhuangzi]], arguing against Taoism in a light-hearted and humorous manner. Another logician, [[Gongsun Long]], told the famous [[When a White Horse is Not a Horse]] dialogue. This school did not thrive because the Chinese regarded [[sophistry]] and [[dialectic]] as impractical.

The logicians (School of Names) were concerned with logic, paradoxes, names and actuality (similar to Confucian rectification of names). The logician [[Hui Shi]] was a friendly rival to [[Zhuangzi]], arguing against Taoism in a light-hearted and humorous manner. Another logician, [[Gongsun Long]], told the famous [[When a White Horse is Not a Horse]] dialogue. This school did not thrive because the Chinese regarded [[sophistry]] and [[dialectic]] as impractical.

== Great philosophical figures ==

== Great philosophical figures ==

* [[Confucius]], seen as the Great Master but sometimes ridiculed by Taoists.

* [[Confucius]], seen as the Great Master but sometimes ridiculed by Taoists.

** [[Mencius]], Confucius' follower having idealist inspiration.

** [[Mencius]], Confucius' follower having idealist inspiration.