Zhou dynasty essayists

Mencius (孟子, Mèngzǐ, ; ), born Meng Ke (), was a Chinese Confucian philosopher, often described as the Second Sage () to reflect his traditional esteem relative to Confucius himself. He was part of Confucius's fourth generation of disciples, inheriting his ideology and developing it further. Living during the Warring States period, he is said to have spent much of his life travelling around the states offering counsel to different rulers. Conversations with these rulers form the basis of the Mencius, which would later be canonised as a Confucian classic.

Chinese Legalist, 280–233 BCE

Chinese Confucian philosopher (c. 310 – after 238 BCE)

Chinese philosopher of the 3rd century BCE of the School of Names

Chinese philosopher and politician (c.400–c.337 BC)

Chinese philosopher

philosopher of the School of Names