Where the Way resides, there the teacher dwells — traverse 2,500 years of philosophical thought and hear the wisdom of ten immortal sages
Explore the SagesFrom the crucible of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods emerged the brightest constellation of thinkers in Chinese civilization — ten sages, ten wisdoms, flowing as one eternal river of spirit.
孔子
551–479 BCE
The Supreme Sage and First Teacher. Founded Confucianism on benevolence and ritual propriety, taught three thousand disciples, and shaped Chinese civilization for twenty-five centuries.
Confucianism孟子
372–289 BCE
The Second Sage, champion of innate human goodness. Advocated benevolent government and identified the Four Sprouts of virtue in every heart.
Confucianism老子
6th century BCE
The Old Master, founder of Daoism. Composed the 5,000-character Tao Te Ching, teaching that the Way is the source of all things.
Daoism庄子
c. 369–286 BCE
The philosopher who dreamed of being a butterfly. Pursued absolute spiritual freedom through the equality of all things.
Daoism墨子
c. 470–391 BCE
Founder of Mohism, champion of universal love and opposition to offensive war — China's earliest utilitarian and pacifist thinker.
Mohism荀子
c. 310–235 BCE
Champion of the doctrine that human nature is evil and goodness must be cultivated through education and ritual.
Confucianism韩非子
c. 280–233 BCE
The great synthesizer of Legalism. Unified law, method, and power position into a complete political philosophy.
Legalism孙子
c. 544–496 BCE
The Divine Strategist, author of The Art of War. His supreme principle: subduing the enemy without fighting.
Military王阳明
1472–1529
Master of the School of Mind. Proposed the unity of knowledge and action — both philosopher and general.
Neo-Confucianism董仲舒
179–104 BCE
The architect of Confucian state ideology who persuaded Emperor Wu to revere only Confucianism.
Confucianism