Knowra Chinese philosophy Chinese philosophy Chinese philosophy comprises traditions developed in China that examine ethics, governance, knowledge, and the nature of reality, including Confucian, Daoist, Mohist, Legalist, Buddhist, and Neo-Confucian thought.
Confucianism : A tradition centered on ethical cultivation, ritual, family relationships, and humane government. Its teachings became one of the most influential foundations of Chinese philosophical debate.
Spring and Autumn period : A period of Eastern Zhou history, conventionally dated 770–476 BCE, marked by weakening royal authority and rising states. Its political changes formed the setting for early thinkers’ arguments about moral and social order.
Ren (Confucianism) : A Confucian virtue commonly translated as humaneness or benevolence, expressed through care in human relationships. It grounds ethical cultivation in differentiated relationships, unlike Mohist impartial care.
Imperial examination : A Chinese system of examinations used for selecting officials, especially prominent during the late imperial period. Its classical curriculum gave Confucian learning lasting influence in state administration.
Confucius : A Chinese teacher and thinker, traditionally dated 551–479 BCE, whose teachings became foundational to Confucianism. His account of ethical learning and humane government shaped a lasting intellectual tradition.
Daoism : A Chinese tradition exploring the Dao, naturalness, and ways of living with less imposed control. It offers a distinct account of the Way and how people should align with it.
Warring States period : The era from 475 to 221 BCE when rival Chinese states fought for dominance before Qin unification. Its intense competition brought diverse schools of thought into sustained debate.
Jian'ai : Mohist impartial care, a principle urging people to extend concern beyond family and close associates. Its universal scope directly disputes the partial obligations emphasized by Confucian ethics.
Han dynasty : A Chinese imperial dynasty ruling from 206 BCE to 220 CE, with a brief interruption by the Xin dynasty. Han institutions elevated Confucian learning while incorporating other intellectual resources.
Mencius : A Confucian thinker of the Warring States period known for arguing that human nature tends toward goodness. His defense of Confucian moral cultivation developed a major account of human nature.
Show all 27