Philosophical Schools

The Book of Han records that during the Spring and Autumn (c.770-476 BCE) and the Warring States (c.475-221 BCE) periods, hundreds of schools of thought contended for ascendancy, including Confucianism, Mohism, and Legalism. Philosophers travelled tirelessly between states, endeavouring to exert their influence over rulers. Even after the canonization of Confucianism in the Western Han period (202-8 BCE), the impact of these schools persisted. For example, the underpinning ideology for state governance of many dynasties, including the Western Han, was still largely Legalism.

Nonetheless, unlike the Confucian canon, which was studied and preserved by generations of scholars, most philosophical schools inevitably declined, and their works were lost. It wasn’t until the Qing dynasty that scholars re-engaged with older philosophical works, compiling and collating scattered texts such as Sun Xingyan’s Forty-eight Works of Ancient Philosophers.

Confucian texts, apart from those defined as Classics by the Si Ku Quan Shu, were included in the Masters category. A notable example here is the Collection of Conversations by Master Zhu, recording the dialogues of Song dynasty scholar Zhu Xi, whose status was regarded as second only to Confucius.

Read more information about Chinese philosophical schools in The socio-economic rationale behind Buddhist persecutions.