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,the favorite disciple of Confucius and one of the most revered figures of Confucianism.
• Zengzi
• Zheng Xuan
• Zisi
• Zhu Xi
• List of Confucianists

  [Taoism]

• Ge Hong
• Laozi, illusive founder of Taoism and author of the Tao te Ching.
• Lie Yukou, said to be the author of the Daoist book Liezi
• Yang Xiong
• Zhang Daoling
• Zhang Jue
• Zhuangzi, 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, utilitarian and founder of the Mohist school.
• Lu Ban

  Legalism">Legalism (Chinese philosophy)">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">School of Names">Logicians

• Deng Xi
• Hui Shi, relativistic Logician who influenced Zhuangzi.
• Gongsun Long, logician who was known for his paradoxes.

  The Agrarian">School of Agrarianism">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
• 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 School in China, he established the concept of "no mind".
• Linji Yixuan, founder of the Linji school of Chan Buddhism in China, a branch of which is the Rinzai school in Japan.
• Zhaozhou, famous chan 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, 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, 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
• Zhou Guoping
• Tsang Lap Chuen

  [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