List of Chinese philosophers

Chinese philosophers include:

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

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