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Chinese philosophy

The classical period of Chinese philosophy extends from the earliest times, through Confucius, to the end of the Qin dynasty.In China, so numerous were the philosophers and their schools during the period from the sixth to third centuries that the Chinese called them the "Hundred Schools." Amazingly, these three major schools of thought were all originated in one 200-year period, the Warring States period of Chinese history. The Warring States period lasted from 403 B.C. to 221 B.C. and could be considered the Dark Age of China. There was no "China" but rather a collection of warlord-ruled provinces all vying with each other for power and territory.Daodejing (Tao-te Ching)

Attain utmost vacuity;

Hold fast to quietude.

Chinese philosophy

The classical period of Chinese philosophy extends from the earliest times, through Confucius, to the end of the Qin dynasty. It was that period of great originality and creativity in China, India, and Greece that the German philosopher Karl Jaspers called the Axial Age. In China, so numerous were the philosophers and their schools during the period from the sixth to third centuries that the Chinese called them the "Hundred Schools."

Amazingly, these three major schools of thought were all originated in one 200-year period, the Warring States period of Chinese history. The Warring States period lasted from 403 B.C. to 221 B.C. and could be considered the Dark Age of China. There was no "China" but rather a collection of warlord-ruled provinces all vying with each other for power and territory.

Life during the Warring States period was harsh and chaotic. The people longed for the peaceful days of the Zhou Dynasty, which had preceded the Warring States period. As a result, the great minds of the time focused their energies on regaining peace and stability in China. Their efforts were culminated in various philosophies, which were mainly blueprints for government that would hopefully bring the land out of chaos and back under a stable, unified rule. The two schools below are the ones that ended up having the most impact on Chinese culture and history

Taoism is frequently called in China, "The Teachings of the Yellow Emperor and Lao Tzu," or "The Teachings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu." Chuang Tzu (369–286 B.C.) was a real person; his teachings came down to us in a short collection of his sayings. The Yellow Emperor is entirely mythical. This Lao Tzu (literally, "old master"), however, we know nothing about; we cannot say with certainty if and when he existed; on the other hand, we cannot say with certainty that he did not exist. Whoever Laozi is, he is also best known for his Daoist work, the Daodejing. All we know is that we have a very short book, the Lao Tzu (or Tao te ching), whose author is supposed to be Lao Tzu. The book is hard to read (as is Chuang Tzu), for one of the underlying principles of Taoism is that it cannot be talked about Hence, Lao Tzu uses non-discursive writing techniques: contradiction, paradox, mysticism, and metaphor.

Daoism (Taoism) is the most mystical of the major schools. As the name suggests, the focus is on the Dao, or the Way. Now, what is the Dao? There are several complicated answers to this, but most simply, the Dao is the natural flow of the cosmos. Nature follows the Dao. Humans with their conscious wills go against the Dao. The goal of the Daoist is to harmonize with the Dao and thereby become united with the cosmos, with nature, with all things.

Daodejing (Tao-te Ching)

Attain utmost vacuity;

Hold fast to quietude.

While the myriad things are stirring together,

I see only their return.

For luxuriantly as they grow,

Each of them will return to its root.