# List of Chinese philosophers

Chinese philosophers include:

## 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