This is a glossary of terminology and biographies related to Chinese philosophy.
Glossary Note: The alphabetical glossary contains a mixture of Chinese terms (in Pinyin transcription) and Western terms. Entries are sorted strictly alphabetically, which means the order does not always follow the conventional sequence of Chinese vocabulary by Pinyin syllables. Umlauted vowels (e.g., “ü”) are alphabetized according to the standard English alphabetical order, as if the umlauts were not present. Wherever possible, Chinese subject terms ideally are presented with simplified characters, traditional characters, and Pinyin.
A
Abaev, Nikolai Nikolai Vyacheslavovich Abaev (1949–2020), Soviet and Russian sinologist and buddhologist and a figure in Zen (Chan)-Buddhism, with Mikhail Titarenko one of the editors of the Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary of Chinese Philosophy (Kitayskaya filosofiya. Entsiklopedicheskiy slovar').
Abel-Rémusat, Jean-Pierre Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat (1788–1832), French sinologist and pioneering scholar of Chinese studies.
Absolute (Buddhism) Absolute 真如 zhēnrú, the (Buddhist) Absolute; see also Bhūtatathatā.
Academy of Chinese Culture Academy of Chinese Culture (Zhongguo wenhua shuyuan 中国文化书院), founded in 1984, an academic institution devoted to the study and preservation of traditional Chinese culture.
Ai Siqi Ai Siqi 艾思奇 (1910–1966), Chinese Marxist philosopher known for his systematic introduction of Marxist theory in China.
Akatsuka Kiyoshi Akatsuka Kiyoshi 赤塚忠 (1913–1983), Japanese scholar of Chinese philosophy and translator of classical texts.
Alekseyev, Vasily Mikhaylovich Vasily Mikhaylovich Alekseyev (1881–1951), Russian sinologist, translator, and researcher of classical Chinese literature and art.
Amiot, Joseph-Marie Joseph-Marie Amiot (1718–1793), French Jesuit missionary to China and translator who helped introduce Chinese culture to Europe.
Analects, The Lunyu 论语, (Confucian) Analects.
Anarchism in China Anarchism in China, the development of anarchist ideas and movements in China since the late 19th century.
An Shigao An Shigao 安世高, Parthian Buddhist monk of the 2nd century and one of the earliest translators of Buddhist scriptures into Chinese.
Apokrypha See weishu, chenwei. Refers to Confucian apocryphal texts (weishu / chenwei) providing supplementary interpretations of the classics.
Araki Kengo Araki Kengo 荒木見悟 (1917–2017), Japanese philosopher and historian of Daoism and Chinese intellectual history.
authenticity authenticity / truthfulness. Sincerity or integrity in Confucian ethics, see cheng 誠 [诚] chéng.
Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, Sanskrit: Mahāyāna śraddhotpādaśāstra; 大乘起信論 Dàshéng qǐxìn lùn, influential Buddhist text.
B
badao Way of the Despot 霸道 bàdào
Bagchi, Prabodh Chandra Prabodh Chandra Bagchi (1898–1956), Indian scholar of Sanskrit and Chinese studies, known for his research on Buddhist texts.
bagua bagua 八卦, the eight symbolic trigrams in Daoist cosmology. See gua.
Baihutong Baihutong 白虎通, The Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall, debates between Old Text and New Text scholars.
Bailianjiao Bailianjiao 白蓮教, White Lotus School, a syncretic religious movement in China.
Balazs, Étienne Étienne Balazs (1905–1963), Hungarian-French sinologist specializing in Chinese social and legal history.
Ban Gu Ban Gu 班固 (32–92), Chinese historian and author of the Book of Han (Han Shu).
Bao Jingyan Bao Jingyan 鲍敬言 (? 278–342), early Chinese Taoist philosopher known for proto-anarchist ideas.
Baojuan Baojuan 宝卷, “Precious Scrolls,” a genre of popular religious literature in China.
bashi bashi 八识 bāshí. Eight Types of Consciousness in Buddhist psychology.
being and non-being you-wu 有无 [有無] yǒuwú, being and non-being; philosophical concept in Chinese thought.
Belousov, Sergei Romanovich Sergei Romanovich Belousov (1957–), Russian sinologist and scholar of Chinese philosophy.
benevolence benevolence, ren 仁 rén, a key Confucian virtue emphasizing humaneness and moral goodness.
Bichurin, Nikita Yakovlevich (Hyacinth) Nikita Yakovlevich Bichurin (1777–1853), Russian sinologist and translator of Chinese historical and religious texts.
bingjia bingjia 兵家, School of the Military Strategists, ancient Chinese school of thought on warfare.
Biot, Jean-Baptiste Jean-Baptiste Biot (1774–1862), French physicist and mathematician who also studied Chinese astronomy.
Blyth, Reginald Horace Reginald Horace Blyth (1898–1964), British scholar known for his translations of Zen literature.
Bodde, Derk Derk Bodde (1909–2003), American sinologist specializing in Chinese legal and political history.
Bodhidharma Bodhidharma, Indian monk traditionally credited with bringing Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China.
body; form body; form. See xing 形 xíng, the physical or material aspect of a being or object.
Book of Changes See Book of Changes.
Book of Documents See Book of Documents.
Book of Lord Shang Shangjun shu 商君书, “Book of Lord Shang,” Legalist writings attributed to Shang Yang.
Book of Poetry See Shijing.
Book of Rites of Zhou See Zhouli 周礼[周禮] Zhōulǐ, Classical text on Zhou dynasty ritual and governance.
Book of Songs See Shijing.
Borexue Borexue 般若学, Study of Prajna, the wisdom literature and philosophy in Mahayana Buddhism.
Borokh, Lilia Nikolaevna Lilia Nikolaevna Borokh (1933–2011), Russian scholar of Chinese philosophy and literature.
Bo Yangfu Bo Yangfu 伯阳父 (?–?), early Chinese figure of the late Zhou Dynasty, explained earthquakes through the movement of Yin and Yang forces.
Buddhism Buddhism, religion and philosophy originating in India, emphasizing the path to enlightenment.
Burov, Vladilen Georgievich Vladilen Georgievich Burov (1931–), Russian sinologist and scholar of Chinese history.
C
Cai Mo Cai Mo 蔡谟 (281–356), Jin dynasty scholar and official, known for his Confucian writings and moral integrity.
Cai Shen Cai Shen [= Cai Chen] 蔡沈 (1167–1230), Song dynasty scholar and government official noted for literary and historical works.
Cai Yuanding Cai Yuanding 蔡元定 (1135–1198), Song dynasty scholar and official, known for contributions to Confucian thought.
Cai Yuanpei Cai Yuanpei 蔡元培 (1868–1940), Chinese educator and reformer, president of Peking University, advocate of modern education and academic freedom.
calm calm 静 jìng. See dongjing 动静, calmness or stillness, often in Daoist or meditative contexts.
Canon of Changes See Zhouyi, Book of Changes.
Canon of Dao and De See Daode jing.
Canon of Documents See Book of Documents.
Canon of Filial Piety See Xiaojing.
Canon of Mountains and Seas See Shanhai jing.
Canon of Songs See Shijing.
Canon of the Great Balance See Taiping jing.
Canon of the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Medicine See Huangdi neijing.
Cao-Dong school Cao-Dong school 曹洞宗 (Cao-Dong zong), one of the major schools of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China.
Cao Duan Cao Duan 曹端 (1376–1434), Ming dynasty scholar, historian, and official.
Cause yuanqi 元气 / 元氣 yuánqì Cause, often in metaphysical or philosophical contexts. See also Mojia.
ceremonies ceremonies. See li 礼, ritual.
Chan Wing-tsit Chan Wing-tsit (1901–1994), Chinese-American philosopher and translator of Chinese philosophy, including Confucian and Taoist texts.
Chavannes, Édouard Édouard Chavannes (1865–1918), French sinologist and epigrapher, known for studies of Chinese history and texts.
Chiang Kai-shek Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975), Chairman of the Kuomintang and head of the nationalist government on the Chinese mainland and in Taiwan.
Chanxue Chanxue 禅学 / 禪學 Chánxué, the study and practice of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China.
Chan school Chan school 禅宗 / 禪宗 Chánzōng, one of the most influential Chinese Buddhist schools, emphasizing meditation and direct insight.
Chen Chun Chen Chun 陈淳 (1153–1217), Ming dynasty scholar and poet, part of the literati tradition.
Chen Duxiu Chen Duxiu 陈独秀 (1879–1942), Chinese revolutionary and co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party.
Chen Fuliang Chen Fuliang 陈傅良 (1137–1203), Song dynasty scholar and government official.
cheng cheng 诚 [誠] chéng. sincerity, honesty, or authenticity; a key Confucian virtue.
Cheng brothers Cheng brothers, Er Cheng 二程, refers to Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao, prominent Song dynasty Neo-Confucian philosophers.
Cheng Hao Cheng Hao 程颢 (1032–1085), Song dynasty philosopher, elder brother of Cheng Yi, key figure in Neo-Confucianism.
Chengshi school Chengshi school 成实宗 (Chengshi zong), “School of Understanding the Truth,” a Tang–Song philosophical school emphasizing epistemology and ontology.
Chen Guojun Chen Guojun 陈国钧 (1926–), modern Chinese historian and scholar.
Cheng Yi Cheng Yi 程颐 (1033–1107), Song dynasty philosopher, Neo-Confucian thinker, younger brother of Cheng Hao.
Cheng Xuanying Cheng Xuanying 成玄英 (?–?), early Tang dynasty philosopher and Daoist scholar.
Cheng-Zhu school Cheng-Zhu school 程朱学派. Cheng [brothers] - Zhu [Xi] school (Cheng-Zhu xuepai 程朱学派), a Neo-Confucian tradition uniting the teachings of Cheng Yi, Cheng Hao (11th–12th c., Luoyang School) and Zhu Xi (12th c., Kaoting School).
Chen Huan Chen Huan 陳奐 (1786–1863), Qing dynasty scholar and official.
Chen Jian Chen Jian 陈建 (1497–1567), Ming dynasty Neo-Confucian philosopher.
Chen Jianfu Chen Jianfu 陳健夫 (1913–), modern Chinese scholar.
Chen Li (1809–1869) Chen Li 陈立 (1809–1869), Qing dynasty scholar.
Chen Li (1810–1882) Chen Li 陈澧/陳澧 (1810–1882), also known as Chen Lanfu, Qing dynasty scholar.
Chen Lifu Chen Lifu 陈立夫 (1900–2001), Chinese politician and Kuomintang leader.
Chen Qitian Chen Qitian 陳啓天 (1893–1984), Chinese historian and scholar.
Chen Quan Chen Quan 陈铨 (1903–1969), Chinese scholar.
Chen Que Chen Que 陈确 (1604–1677), scholar and official of the late Ming and early Qing.
Chen Shouqi Chen Shouqi 陈寿祺 (1771–1834), Qing dynasty scholar.
Chen Tianhua Chen Tianhua 陳天華/陈天华 (1875–1905), Chinese revolutionary and writer.
Chen Wangdao Chen Wangdao 陈望道 (1891–1977), Chinese scholar and translator, first to translate the Communist Manifesto into Chinese.
chenwei chenwei 谶纬 [讖緯] chènwěi. Prophetic and apocryphal texts in ancient China.
Chen Xianzhang Chen Xianzhang 陈献章 (1428–1500), Ming dynasty scholar and official.
Chen Yinke Chen Yinke 陳寅恪 (1890–1969), renowned Chinese historian and philologist.
Chen Yuan Chen Yuan 陈垣 (1880–1971), Chinese historian specializing in Buddhism.
Chen Zhongfan Chen Zhongfan 陈中凡 (1888–1982), Chinese scholar.
Chinese Philosophical Society Chinese Philosophical Society 中国哲学会 Zhōngguó zhéxué huì, society for the study of Chinese philosophy.
Julia Ching Julia Ching 秦家懿 (1934–2001), Canadian-Chinese scholar of Confucianism, also known as Qin Jiayi.
Christianity in China Christianity in China, history and development of Christian communities in China.
Chung-ying Cheng Chung-ying Cheng 成中英 (1935–), modern Chinese-American philosopher, also known as Cheng Zhongying, specializing in comparative philosophy.
Chunqiu Chunqiu 春秋 Chūnqiū, Spring and Autumns Annals, historical chronicle of the State of Lu.
Classic of the Secret Talisman See Yinfujing.
Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall Baihutong 白虎通, Po Hu T’ung.
Confucius Confucius 孔子 Kǒngzǐ, Chinese philosopher and founder of Confucianism.
Couvreur, Séraphin Séraphin Couvreur (1835–1919), French Jesuit sinologist and translator of Chinese classics.
Cordier, Henri Henri Cordier (1849–1925), French sinologist and bibliographer.
Creel, Herrlee Glessner Herrlee Glessner Creel (1905–1994), American sinologist, expert on Confucianism and Chinese philosophy.
Cui Shi (ca. 170) Cui Shi 崔寔 (?–ca. 170), early Chinese scholar.
Cui Shi (1852–1924) Cui Shi 崔適 (1852–1924), Qing dynasty scholar and government official.
D
dade dade 大德 dàdé “Great virtue,” a moral and ethical concept in Confucianism.
Dai De Dai De 戴德 (?–?), early Chinese scholar.
Dai Jitao Dai Jitao 戴季陶 (1891–1949), Chinese politician, revolutionary, and early Kuomintang theorist.