Major Chinese Philosophies

Confucianism

This philosophy is based on the teachings of Confucius, a Chinese thinker from ancient times. It discusses morals, society, politics, religion, and education, greatly impacting Chinese history and culture. Some people even see it as China’s main religion because it influenced Asian culture, became popular during the Tang and Song dynasties, and kept evolving.

Confucius talked about important things like respect for family, loyalty, rituals, and being kind to others. He thought the whole country would improve if people behaved well in their families and communities. Confucius also emphasized education and declared it key to building a good society.

Taoism

It is a philosophy that later became a religion based on ancient texts by Zhuangzi. The word “Tao” means “path”; it’s seen as a major force that exists everywhere but can’t be seen or explained. Taoism explains finding the right way to live morally. Taoism talks about things like not forcing things to happen, being gentle, and seeing things from different perspectives.

It’s often seen as a rival to Confucianism, which focuses on being active and doing the right thing. However, some people say you can practice Confucianism on the outside and Taoism on the inside. The main idea in Taoism is explained as follows: It is better to go with the flow to keep things in harmony and not interfere with nature or other people’s lives.

Legalism

This philosophy was based on the philosopher Han Fei during the late pre-Han dynasty. It is based on governing through strict laws and principles. In Legalism, authority is based on three principles:

• Law or principle (fa),
• Method or statecraft (shu)
• Legitimacy or power (shi).

Legalism was considered more difficult than other philosophical schools like Confucianism and Mohism, as it followed strict followance to laws and punishment. It promoted the idea that laws should be clear and punishments severe to maintain order. Ministers were rewarded based on the accuracy of their proposals, and the philosophy encouraged an aggressive approach to governance.

Mohism

The goal of Mohism was to create a society where everyone works together for the good, ensuring the well-being of all individuals. Mohism was founded by Mozi, who explained the concept of universal love and mutual benefit among all people. Mozi needed to find the Confucian rituals right and instead focused on practical activities like farming, fortification, and statecraft that were essential for societal well-being. The philosophy explained the concept of a moral guide to help people identify acceptable traditions and promote activities that benefit society.

Chinese philosophy began thousands of years ago during a time of many different ideas when wise people were often leaders and inventors, showing the practical side of wisdom. Classical Chinese philosophers paid more attention to ethics rather than questions of knowledge and logic. They were less interested in connecting thoughts to the outside world and more about how individuals best fit into society.

Major philosophical ideas like Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism emerged during this ancient time. There were also lesser-known philosophies like Agriculturalism, Mohism, Chinese Naturalism, and the Logicians. Today, Confucianism still plays a big role in how Chinese people act.

Focusing on understanding humanity and human life is very important in Chinese philosophy. This idea is similar to Socrates’ belief in “Know thyself,” written at the Delphi Temple entrance in ancient Greece. In his book “An Essay on Man,” Cassirer says that understanding ourselves is the main goal of philosophy. He believes this idea is a central point for all cultures and times, and Chinese philosophy also follows this belief.

We have mentioned in detail about origin of Chinese philosophy, various philosophers, periods, and much more about it.