Yin Yang symbol and Ba gua paved in a clearing outside of Nanning City, Guangxi province, China.

Chinese philosophy is philosophy written in one of the Chinese traditions of thought. Chinese philosophy has a history of several thousand years; its origins are often traced back to the Yi Jing (the Book of Changes), an ancient compendium of divination, which introduced some of the most fundamental terms of Chinese philosophy. Its age can only be estimated (its first flowering is generally considered to have been in about the 6th century BC^[1]), but it draws on an oracular tradition that goes back to neolithic times. A Yin & Yang symbol surrounded by the ba gua, photographed by me (prat) in a park outside of Nanning, Guangxi province, 2003-08-05. ... A Yin & Yang symbol surrounded by the ba gua, photographed by me (prat) in a park outside of Nanning, Guangxi province, 2003-08-05. ... Taoists Taijitu The concept of Yin Yang originates in ancient Chinese philosophy, most likely from the observations of day turning into night and night into day. ... Guangxi (Zhuang: Gvangjsih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西; Traditional Chinese: 廣西; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ«; Wade-Giles: Kuang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangsi), full name Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Zhuang: Gvangjsih Bouxcuengh Swcigih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西壮族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 廣西壯族自治區; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ« Zhuàngzú ZìzhìqÅ«) is a Zhuang autonomous region of... Philosopher in Meditation (detail), by Rembrandt. ... This is the current collaboration of the week! Please help improve it to featured article standard. ... Alternative meaning: I Ching (monk) The I Ching (Traditional Chinese: 易經, pinyin y jīng; Cantonese IPA: jɪk6gɪŋ1; Cantonese Jyutping: jik6ging1; alternative romanizations include I Jing, Yi Ching, Yi King) is the oldest of the Chinese classic texts. ... This article is about the religious practice of divination. ... An array of Neolithic artefacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools Excavated dwellings at Skara Brae Scotland, Europes most complete Neolithic village. ...

Brief history

Early Shang Dynasty thought was based upon a cyclic notion of time, corresponding to the seasons. This notion, which remained relevant throughout Chinese history, represents a fundamental distinction from western philosophy, in which the dominant view of time is a linear progression. During the Shang, fate could be manipulated by the great deity Shang Di (Chinese: 上帝; py: shàngdì), most frequently translated "Lord on High". Ancestor worship was also present, as was human and animal sacrifice. The Shāng Dynasty (Chinese: 商朝) or YÄ«n Dynasty (殷代) (ca. ... China is the worlds oldest continuous major civilization, with written records dating back about 3,500 years and with 5,000 years being commonly used by Chinese as the age of their civilization. ... Western philosophy is a modern claim that there is a line of related philosophical thinking, beginning in ancient Greece (Greek philosophy) and the ancient Near East (the Abrahamic religions), that continues to this day. ... Destiny or fate refers to the inevitable course of events. ... Shang Ti (上帝) or Lord of Heaven is the name of the supreme deity worshipped by the ancient Chinese, especially during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell(ing) and yin means sound(s)). This article describes the most common variant called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ...

When the Shang were overthrown by the Zhou, a new political, religious and philosophical concept was introduced called the "Mandate of Heaven". This mandate was said to be taken when rulers became unworthy of their position, and provided a shrewd justification for Zhou rule. During this period, archaeological evidence points to an increase in literacy and a partial shift away from the faith placed in Shang Di, with ancestor worship becoming commonplace and a more worldly orientation coming to the fore. The Zhou Dynasty (Chinese: 周朝; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: chou chao; 11th century BC to 256 BC) followed the Shang (Yin) Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty in China. ... The Mandate of Heaven (天命 Pinyin: Tiānmìng) was a traditional Chinese concept of legitimacy used to support the rule of the kings of the Shang Dynasty and later the Emperors of China. ...

In around 500 BC, after the Zhou state weakened and China moved in to the Spring and Autumn Period, the classic period of Chinese philosophy began (it is an interesting fact that this date nearly coincides with the emergence of the first Greek philosophers). This is known as the Hundred Schools of Thought (百家, bǎijiā). Of the many schools founded at this time and during the subsequent Warring States Period, the four most influential ones were Confucianism, Daoism (often spelled "Taoism"), Mohism and Legalism. The short founder Qin Dynasty, where Legalism was the official philosophy, quashed Mohist and Confucianist schools. Legalism remained influential until the emperors of the Han Dynasty adopted Daoism and later Confucianism as official doctrine. These latter two became the determining forces of Chinese thought until the 20th century, with the introduction Buddhist philosophy (mostly during Tang Dynasty) negotiated largely through perceived similarities with Daoism. Centuries: 7th century BC - 6th century BC - 5th century BC Decades: 550s BC - 540s BC - 530s BC - 520s BC - 510s BC - 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC - 470s BC - 460s BC - 450s BC Events and Trends 509 BC - Foundation of the Roman Republic 508 BC - Office of pontifex maximus created... The Spring and Autumn Period (Chinese: 春秋時代; Hanyu Pinyin: ) represented an era in Chinese history between 722 BC and 481 BC. The period takes its name from the Spring and Autumn Annals, a chronicle of the period whose authorship was traditionally attributed to Confucius. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Hundred Schools of Thought (諸子百家 Pinyin: zhÅ« zǐ bÇŽi jiā) was an era of great cultural and intellectual expansion in China that lasted from 770 BCE to 222 BCE. Coinciding with the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and also known as the Golden Age of Chinese thought... Alternative meaning: Warring States Period (Japan) The Warring States Period (Traditional Chinese: 戰國時代; Simplified Chinese: 战国时代; Pinyin: Zhànguó Shídài) covers the period from sometime in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the Qin in 221 BC. It is nominally considered to be the second part... Confucianist temple Thian Hock Keng in Singapore Confucianism (Chinese: å„’å­¦, Pinyin: Rúxué‚ [ ] , literally The School of the Scholars; or, less accurately, 孔教 Kŏng jiào, The Religion of Confucius) is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the early Chinese sage Confucius. ... Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for: (a) a philosophical school based on the texts the Dao De Jing (ascribed to Laozi) and the Zhuangzi. ... Founded by Mozi, Mohism (墨家), or Moism, is a Chinese philosophy that evolved at the same time as Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism (Hundred Schools of Thought). ... Legalism, in the Western sense, is an approach to the analysis of legal questions characterized by abstract logical reasoning focusing on the applicable legal text, such as a constitution, legislation, or case law, rather than on the social, economic, or political context. ... The Qin Dynasty (Chinese: 秦朝; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chin Chao) (221 BC - 206 BC) was preceded by the Zhou Dynasty and followed by the Han Dynasty in China. ... To burn the classics and to bury the scholars (焚书坑儒) refers to a policy in the Qin Dynasty. ... The Han Dynasty (Traditional Chinese: 漢朝; Simplified Chinese: 汉朝; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Han Chau; 206 BC–AD 220) followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. ... Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (c. ... For the band, see Tang Dynasty (band). ...

The respective influences of Daoism and Confucianism are often described this way: "Chinese are Confucianist during the day, while they are Daoists at night". Moreover, many Chinese mandarins were government officials in the daily life and poets (or painters) in their spare time. A Mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China. ...

When the Communist Party of China took over power, previous schools of thought, excepting notably Legalism, were denounced as backward, but their influence on Chinese thought remains. The Communist Party of China (CPC) (official name) also known as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; Pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng) is the ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Legalism has several meanings. ...

there are many comaparisons for each philosophy.

Great philosophical figures

• Confucius, seen as the Great Master but sometimes ridiculed by Taoists.
  • Mencius, Confucius' follower having idealist inspiration.
  • Xun Zi, another Confucius' follower, closer to realism.
  • Zhu Xi, founder of Neo-Confucianism
  • Wang Yangming, most influential proponent of xinxue or "school of mind."
• Lao Zi, the chief of Taoist school.
  • Zhuang Zi, said to be the author of the Zhuangzi.
  • Lie Zi, said to be the author of the True Classic of Perfect Emptiness.
• Mozi, the founder of Mohist school.
• Han Fei, one of the theoreticians of Legalism
• Lin-chi, a great Buddhist Ch'an thinker and teacher, essentially shaped what would become one of the largest schools of Buddhism (Rinzai school of Zen)

Confucius (Chinese 孔夫子, transliterated Kong Fuzi or Kung-fu-tzu, literally Master Kong, traditionally September 28, 551 – 479 BC) was a famous Chinese thinker and social philosopher, whose teachings and philosophy deeply influenced East Asian life and thought. ... Mencius (most accepted dates: 372 BC – 289 BC; other possible dates: 385 BC – 303 BC or 302 BC) was born in the State of Zou (鄒國), now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng (邹城市), Shandong province, only 30 km (18 miles) south of Qufu, the town of Confucius. ... Xunzi Xún Zǐ (荀子, or Hsün Tzu c. ... Zhu Xi or Chu Hsi (1130–1200) was a Song Dynasty (960-1279) Confucian scholar who became one of the most significant Neo-Confucians in China. ... Neo-Confucianism (理學 Pinyin: Lǐxué) is a term for a form of Confucianism that was primarily developed during the Song dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang dynasty. ... Wang Yangming (王陽明, Japanese ÅŒ Yōmei, 1472–1529) was a Ming Chinese idealist Neo-Confucian scholar–official. ... Lao Zi (Chinese 老子, also spelled Laozi, Lao Tzu, or Lao Tse) is a major figure in Chinese philosophy whose historical existence is debated. ... // The Person Zhuāng Zǐ (pinyin), Chuang Tzu (W-G), or Chuang Tse (Chinese 莊子, literally meaning Master Zhuang) was a famous philosopher in ancient China who lived around the 4th century BC during the Warring States Period, corresponding to the Hundred Schools of Thought philosophical summit of Chinese thought. ... Lie Zi (列子) or Lieh Tzu is a famous legendary Taoist sage mentioned several times in the Zhuang Zi. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Traditional Chinese: 韓非 Simplified Chinese: 韩非 Pinyin: Hán FÄ“i Wade-Giles: Han Fei Han Fei (韓非) (c. ... Japanese painting of Linji Yixuan (Jap. ... Chán is a major school of Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. ... Buddhism is a religion, philosophy, and arguably a psychology, focusing on the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama), who lived in ancient India most likely from the mid-6th to the early 5th century BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha... The dry garden at Ryōan-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple in Kyoto. ... Bodhidharma, woodcut print by Yoshitoshi, 1887. ...

Concepts within Chinese philosophy

Although the individual philosophical schools differ considerably, they nevertheless share a common vocabulary and set of concerns.

Among the terms commonly found in Chinese philosophy are:

• Tao (the Way, or one's doctrine)
• De (virtue, power)
• Li (principle)
• Qi (vital energy or material force)
• The Taiji (Great Heavenly Axis) forms a unity, from which two antagonistic concepts, Yin and Yang originate. The word Yin originally referred to a hillside facing away from the sun. Philosophically, it stands the gloomy, passive, female concept, whereas Yang (the hillside facing the sun) stands for the bright, active, male concept. Both concepts, though antagonistic, are also complementary and the present domination of one implies the future rise of the other, as moon's phases (this is one of the meanings of the well-known Yin-Yang figures).

Among the great controversies of Chinese philosophies are: Taijitu This article is about the Chinese character. ... DE or de may refer to: // Language De is a preposition meaning of or from in a number of Romance Languages such as French and Spanish, and is often evident in the names of people, places, and things. ... Li or li may refer to: Lee or Li is a transliteration of several Chinese and Korean family names, see Li (Chinese name) and Lee (Korean name). ... QI, standing for Quite Interesting, is a comedy panel game television show shown on BBC Two and BBC Four and hosted by Stephen Fry. ... A commonly used version of a symbol for Taiji, called Taijitu, 太極圖 Another Taijitu attributed to Zhou Dun-yi. ... Yin may refer to: Yin Dynasty, another name for the first historic Chinese nation and dynasty, the Shang. ... Look up yang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

• The relation between matter and principle
• The method of discovering truth
• Human nature

Among the commonalties of Chinese philosophies are:

• Epistemological optimism. The belief that the big questions can be answered even if the answers are not currently known.
• The tendency not to view man as separate from nature.
• The tendency not to invoke a unified and personified supernatural power. Questions about the nature and existence of God which have profoundly influenced Western philosophy have not been important in Chinese philosophies.
• The belief that the purpose of philosophy is primarily to serve as an ethical and practical guide.
• The political focus: most scholars of the Hundred Schools were trying to convince the ruler to behave in the way they defended.

God denotes the deity believed by monotheists to be the sole creator and ruler of the universe. ...

Notes

1. ^ Antony Flew & Stephen Priest [edd], A Dictionary of Philosophy. Pan Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0330487302.

Further reading

• A History of Chinese Philosophy (Princeton Paperbacks), Fung You-lan, tr. Derk Bodde, 1983.
• Disputers of the Tao; Philosophical Argument in Ancient China, A. C. Graham, 1989.
• Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China, Arthur Waley, 1983.
• Chinese Thought, from Confucius to Mao Zedong, Herrlee Glessner Creel, 1971.
• The Importance of Living, Lin Yutang, 1996.

Derk Bodde (9 March 1909- 3 November 2003) was a prominent 20th century American Sinologist and historian of China. ... Arthur David Waley (August 19, 1889 – June 27, 1966) was a noted English Orientalist and Sinologist. ... Herlee Glessner Creel (1905-June 1, 1994) was an American orientalist and philosopher, and authority on Confucius. ... Lin Yutang, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1939 Lin Yutang (林語堂, October 10, 1895 – March 26, 1976) was a Chinese writer whose original works and translations of classic Chinese texts became very popular in the West. ...

See also

• Culture of China
• Qigong
• Five Elements
• Chinese classic texts
• Eastern philosophy
• Philosopher
• Chinese history
• Chinese philosophers
• Religion in China
• Notable publications in Chinese philosophy

Home to one of the worlds oldest and most complex civilizations, China boasts a history rich in over 5,000 years of artistic, philosophical, and political advancement. ... Qigong (Simplified Chinese: 气功; Traditional Chinese: 氣功; pinyin: qìgōng; Wade-Giles: chi4 kung1; Thai: ) is an aspect of Chinese medicine involving the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body. ... Chinese Wood (木) | Fire (火) | Earth (土) | Metal (金) | Water (水) Hinduism The Panchamahabhuta (five great elements) Prithvi/Bhumi (Earth) Ap/Jala (Water) Agni/Tejas (Fire) Vayu/Pavan (Air/Wind) Akasha (Aether) In traditional Chinese philosophy, natural phenomena can be classified into the Five Elements (Chinese: 五行; Pinyin: wǔxíng): wood, fire, earth, metal, and... Chinese classic texts or Chinese canonical texts are the classical literature in Chinese culture that are considered to be the best or the most valuable. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... China is the worlds oldest continuous major civilization, with written records dating back about 3,500 years and with 5,000 years being commonly used by Chinese as the age of their civilization. ... Jingan Temple in downtown Shanghai. ... This is a list of important publications in philosophy, organized by field. ...

External links

• The Hundred Schools of Thought in http://www.chinaknowledge.de
• Chinese Text Project - Chinese philosophy texts in classical Chinese with English and modern Chinese translations
• dmoz' Eastern Philosophy directory
• Chinese Philosophical Etext Archive
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Chinese-Western Comparative Philosophy
• Chinese Philosophy Forum - Discussion about chinese philosophy such as Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism, Buddhism etc.