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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<ref>Antony Flew & Stephen Priest [edd], ''A Dictionary of Philosophy''. Pan Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0-330-48730-2.</ref>), 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'') <ref>{{cite book|author=Lao Tze (Laozi)|editor=Stephen Hodge (Translator)|title=''Tao Te Ching''|publisher=Barron''s Educational Series|date=2002}} ISBN 0-7641-2168-5</ref> and the ''[[Analects]]'' of [[Confucius]] (''Kǒng fū zǐ''; sometimes called ''Master Kong'') <ref name="Confucius">{{cite book|author=Kung Fu Tze (Confucius)|editor=D. C. Lau (Translator)|title=''The Analects''|publisher=Penguin Classics|date=1998}} 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</ref> 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. <ref name="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.

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 [[To burn the classics and to bury the scholars|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 [[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, [[Neo-Confucianism]] was a revived version of old Confucian principles that appeared around the [[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 [[To burn the classics and to bury the scholars|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 [[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, [[Neo-Confucianism]] was a revived version of old Confucian principles that appeared around the [[Song Dynasty]], with Buddhist, Taoist, and Legalist features in the religion.  

==== 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.

Despite their many differences, it would be far from the truth that [[Western philosophy|Western]] and Chinese philosophy completely thought differently. The two philosophies explored deep into the realms of inquiry and covered similar grounds. Thus, naturally, they would have an ample number of schools that had thought similarly. For example, there were philosophers in China, such as the [[Logicians]], that made scientific rationality their chief focus, while there were philosophers in the West, such as [[Marcus Aurelius]], that saw meditation as the path to knowledge. It is just the mainstream philosophical schools that make Western and Chinese philosophy different.

Despite their many differences, it would be far from the truth that [[Western philosophy|Western]] and Chinese philosophy completely thought differently. The two philosophies explored deep into the realms of inquiry and covered similar grounds. Thus, naturally, they would have an ample number of schools that had thought similarly. For example, there were philosophers in China, such as the [[Logicians]], that made scientific rationality their chief focus, while there were philosophers in the West, such as [[Marcus Aurelius]], that saw meditation as the path to knowledge. It is just the mainstream philosophical schools that make Western and Chinese philosophy different.

== Further reading ==

== Further reading ==

* [http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/zhou-literature.html The Hundred Schools of Thought] in http://www.chinaknowledge.de

* [http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/zhou-literature.html The Hundred Schools of Thought] in http://www.chinaknowledge.de

* [http://chinese.dsturgeon.net Chinese Text Project] - Chinese philosophy texts in classical Chinese with English and modern Chinese translations

* [http://chinese.dsturgeon.net Chinese Text Project] - Chinese philosophy texts in classical Chinese with English and modern Chinese translations

* [http://main.chinesephilosophy.net/ Chinese Philosophical Etext Archive]

* [http://main.chinesephilosophy.net/ Chinese Philosophical Etext Archive]

* [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/comparphil-chiwes/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Chinese-Western Comparative Philosophy]

* [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/comparphil-chiwes/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Chinese-Western Comparative Philosophy]