Origin of Chinese Philosophy
Chinese Philosophy originated during the Warring States period, between 475 and 221 BCE. Some early thoughts can be traced back to the Book of Changes from around 672 BCE. With time, Chinese philosophy has seen many changes and mixtures of ideas, a perfect example of different streams coming together to form a big river. This has been happening since ancient times and continues today. Starting in the late 18th century, Western philosophical ideas also began to blend in with Chinese philosophy.
Around 500 BCE, as China entered the Spring and Autumn period, the Hundred Schools of Thought era began, marking the golden age of Chinese philosophy. This period saw the rise of many philosophical schools, but the most influential were Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, and Legalism.
Chinese Philosophy: Origin and Philosophers
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.
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