List of Chinese 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

Zengzi

Zheng Xuan

Zisi

Zhu Xi

List of Confucianists

Taoism

Chen Tuan

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

Zhang Sanfeng

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzŭ), mystical and relativistic skeptic.

List of Taoists

Chinese 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

Wang Bi, Three Kingdoms philosopher

Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove

Ruan Ji

Ji Kang

Shan Tao

Liu Ling

Ruan Xian

Xiang Xiu

Wang Rong

Zen

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

Mou Zongsan

Adam Ngan, legal positivism

Tang Junyi

Xu Fuguan

Zhang Dongsun

Carsun Chang (Zhang Junmai)

Tsang Lap Chuen (曾立存)

Chinese Marxist Philosophy

Mao Zedong

Wang Ruoshui

Li Da

Ai Siqi

Chen Duxiu

Qu Qiubai

Yang Xianzhen

Yang Rongguo

Zhang Shiying