Four Books

This page hosts educational diagrams that illustrate fundamental concepts in Chinese philosophy. Feel free to share them around the internet, try them out in your classes, and contact me with ideas for improvements and new builds.

“The Three Teachings” 三教: As they are called in China, sanjiao 三教, the three teachings are rujia 儒家 (“Ruist School,” called “Confucianism” in English), daojia 道家 (Daoist School,” not to be confused with daojiao 道教, (“Daoist Religion”), and fojia 佛家 (“Buddhist School”) which included chanzong 禪宗 (“Chan Buddhism,” called “Zen” in English). In the Song Dynasty the three where synthesized into lixue 理學 (“School of Nature’s Principle,” termed “Neo-Confucianism” in English).

“One-Thread Runs Through It All” 一貫: The multitude of schools from Ancient Times to the Middle Ages had a “single thread” running through their mental framework. These schools proposed different Ways (dao 道) to do correspondingly different things. Yet the basis for all were the Principles (li 理) inherent in Nature (tian 天). A beginning student of Chinese philosophy should first thoroughly understand these three concepts.