This is a wide-ranging alphabetical list of philosophers from the Eastern traditions of philosophy, with special interest in Indo-Chinese philosophy. The list stops at the year 1950, after which philosophers fall into the category of contemporary philosophy. Chinese philosophers Ancient Chinese philosophers Before 256 BCE (until the end of the Zhou dynasty) Guan Zhong (died in 645 BCE) Confucius (traditionally 551–479 BCE) — founder of Confucianism Sunzi (– BCE) — military philosopher Laozi (probably 6th century BCE) — founder of Taoism 475–221 BCE (Warring States period) Mozi (– BCE) — political and religious philosopher Liezi (– BCE) Gaozi ( BCE) Mencius (most accepted dates: 372–289 BCE; other possible dates: 385–303 BCE or 302 BCE) — political philosopher, social contract Xu Xing ( BCE) Gongsun Longzi (fl. 300 BCE) — School of Names Hui Shi (4th century BCE)—School of Names Shang Yang (died 338 BCE) — Legalist bureaucrat Shen Buhai (died 337 BCE) — Legalist bureaucrat Shen Dao (–275 BCE) Song Xing (360–290 BCE) Yang Zhu (370–319 BCE)— Usually classified as a Hedonist Zhuang Zhou (Zhuangzi, BCE) — major Taoist philosopher Xunzi (–237 BCE) — Confucianist, pessimistic about human nature Zou Yan (305?–240? BCE)— School of Naturalists, Yin-Yang, Five Elements Han Feizi (died 233 BCE) — totalistic legalism Lü Buwei (290–235 BCE) 221 BCE–220 CE (Qin, Han and Xin dynasties) Jia Yi (201–169 BCE) Dong Zhongshu (– BCE) Liu An (179–122 BCE) Wang Chong (27–97 CE) Yang Xiong (53 BCE–18 CE) Zheng Xuan (127–200 CE) He Yan (190–249 CE) 220 CE–907 CE (Three Kingdoms period to Tang dynasty) Ruan Ji (210–263) Ji Kang (223–262) Wang Bi (226–249) — commentator on the Tao Te Ching and the I Ching Pei Wei (267–300) Guo Xiang (died 312) Zhi Dun (314–366) Sengzhao (384–414) Ge Hong (4th century) Zhiyi (538–597) Jizang (549–623) Cheng Xuanying (631–655) Huineng (638–713) Fazang (643–712) Li Ao (722–841) Han Yu (768–824) Zongmi (780–841) Linji Yixuan (died 866) 907–1368 (Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period to Yuan dynasty) Fan Zhongyan (989–1052) Hu Yuan (993–1059) — revived Confucianism Shao Yung (1011–1077) Zhou Dunyi (1017–1073) Chang Tsai (1020–1077) Cheng Hao (1032–1085) — established the Confucian "School of Mind" Cheng Yi (1033–1107) Hu Hong (1105-1161) Zhu Xi (1130–1200) — thinker of the Confucianist "School of Principle" Lu Jiuyuan (1139–1193) 1368–1912 (Ming and Qing dynasties) Chen Xianzhang (1428–1500) Wang Yangming (1472–1529) Wang Gen (1483-1541) He Xinyin (1517-1579) Li Zhi (1527–1602) Jiao Hong (1540–1620) Liu Tsung-chou (1578–1645)