Chinese philosophy
has a history of several thousand years. Its origins are often traced back to the Yi_Jing (commonly spelled "I_Ching"), an ancient compendium of divination, which introduced some of the most fundamental terms of Chinese philosophy. Its age can only be estimated, but it certainly draws from an oracular tradition that goes back to neolithic times. Early Shang thought was based upon a cyclic notion of time, corresponding to the seasons. This notion, which remained relevant throughout Chinese history, represents a fundamental distinction from western_philosophy, in which the dominant view of time is a linear progression. During the Shang, fate could be manipulated by the great deity Shang_Di (ch. 上帝; pinyin ''shang4di4''), most frequently translated as "Lord on High". Ancestor_worship was also present, as was human and animal sacrifice. When the Shang were overthrown by the Zhou, a new political, religious and philosophical concept was introduced called the "Mandate_of_Heaven". This mandate was said to be taken when rulers became unworthy of their position, and provided a shrewd justification for Zhou rule. During this period, archaeological evidence points to an increase in literacy and a partial shift away from the faith placed Shang Di, with ancestor worship becoming commonplace and a more worldly orientation coming to the fore. In around 500_BC, after the Zhou state weakend and China moved in to the Spring_and_Autumn_Period, the classic period of Chinese philosophy began (it is an interesting fact that this date nearly coincides with the emergence of the first Greek philosophers). This is known as the Hundred_Schools_of_Thought. Of the many schools founded at this time and during the subsequent Warring_States_Period (the so-called 百家 (''bai3 jia1''; "100 schools"), the four most influential ones were Confucianism, Daoism (often spelled "Taoism"), Mohism and Legalism. Mohist schools, such as the Logicians, were largely quashed during the short Qin_Dynasty, where Legalism was the official philosophy. Legalism remained influential until the emperors of the Han_Dynasty adopted Daoism and later Confucianism as official doctrine. These latter two became the determining forces of Chinese thought until the 20th century, with the introduction Buddhist_philosophy negotiated largely through perceived similarities with Daoism. The respective influences of Daoism and Confucianism are often described this way: "Chinese are Confucianist during the day, while they are Daoists at night". Moreover, many Chinese mandarins were government officials in the daily life ''and'' poets (or painters) in their spare time. When the Communist Party took over power, previous schools of thought, excepting notably Legalism, were denounced as backward, but their influence on Chinese thought remains.Concepts within Chinese philosophy
Although the individual philosophical schools differ considerably, they nevertheless share a common vocabulary and set of concerns. Among the terms commonly found in Chinese philosophy are:
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