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Biography: Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE) was an ancient Chinese philosopher and leading figure of the Legalist school. Philosophical views: He believed in strict laws, centralized power, and an autocratic government as the means to ensure order and stability.

Biography: Nishida Kitaro (1870–1945) was a Japanese philosopher and founder of the Kyoto School. Philosophical views: His philosophy integrates Western philosophy with Eastern thought, particularly Zen, and his concept of 'pure experience' is a cornerstone of his work.

Biography: Ramanuja (1017–1137 CE) was a Hindu theologian, philosopher, and one of the most important exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism. Philosophical views: He advocated for the concept of qualified non-dualism (Vishishtadvaita), stressing the unity of the soul with God while maintaining a distinction.

Biography: Confucius (551–479 BCE) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher. Philosophical views: He emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity. His philosophy is known as Confucianism.

Biography: Laozi, also known as Lao-Tzu or Lao-Tze, was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, considered the founder of philosophical Taoism. Philosophical views: He proposed the concept of Tao and the importance of naturalness, spontaneity, and simplicity.

Biography: Gaudapada (c. 6th century CE) was an early Indian Vedantic philosopher and a precursor to Shankara in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. Philosophical views: He is known for his Mandukya Karika, a commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad, where he sets out the doctrine of non-dualism or Ajativada.

Biography: Zhuangzi (c. 369–286 BCE), also known as Zhuang Zhou, was a Chinese philosopher who flourished during the Warring States period. Philosophical views: His work, the Zhuangzi, is considered one of the foundational texts of Taoism, advocating for a life of simplicity and non-action.

Biography: Nagarjuna (c. 150–250 CE) was an Indian Buddhist philosopher and the founder of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Philosophical views: He conducted critical analyses of Buddhist philosophy, leading to his doctrine of the 'emptiness' (Śūnyatā) of all phenomena.

Biography: Gorakhnath (c. 11th century) was a Hindu yogi, saint, and the founder of the Nath tradition. Philosophical views: His teachings focus on liberation through yoga, and he is considered an important figure in the Hatha yoga tradition.

Biography: Mozi (c. 470–391 BCE), also known as Mo Di, was a Chinese philosopher who founded the school of Mohism. Philosophical views: Mozi's philosophy emphasized universal love, meritocratic governance, and practicality.

Biography: Dogen (1200–1253) was a Japanese Buddhist priest, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Soto school of Zen. Philosophical views: Dogen emphasized zazen, or sitting meditation, and the practice of mindfulness as paths to enlightenment.

Biography: Huineng (638–713 CE) was the sixth and last patriarch of Chán Buddhism in China. Philosophical views: He advocated the 'sudden' school of enlightenment and the idea that enlightenment is a state of mind accessible to all, irrespective of formal study or learning.

Biography: Adi Shankara (788–820 CE), also known as Shankaracharya, was an Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. Philosophical views: His works elucidate the non-dualistic aspect of Brahman and critique the dualistic interpretations of Vedanta.

Biography: Mencius, or Mengzi (372–289 BCE), was a Chinese Confucian philosopher. Philosophical views: He believed in the innate goodness of human nature and advocated for benevolent governance and moral development through self-cultivation.

Biography: Xunzi (c. 310–235 BCE) was a Chinese Confucian philosopher who argued against Mencius' view that human nature is good. Philosophical views: He believed human nature is bad and that moral and social order are achieved through education and proper ritual.

Biography: Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) was an Indian Hindu monk and a key figure in introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. Philosophical views: He emphasized spirituality, social reform, and a synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas.

Biography: Kumārajīva (344–413 CE) was a Kuchean Buddhist monk, scholar, and translator who contributed to the spread of Buddhism in China. Philosophical views: He is noted for the quality of his translations of Buddhist texts, which helped convey complex Indian philosophical ideas to a Chinese audience.

Biography: Sun Tzu was an ancient Chinese military strategist, traditionally believed to be the author of "The Art of War," a widely influential work on military strategy. Philosophical views: Though focused on war, his strategies emphasize the importance of adaptability, deception, and efficient use of resources.

Biography: Wang Yangming (1472–1529) was a Chinese idealist Neo-Confucian philosopher and official. Philosophical views: He developed the philosophy of the unity of knowledge and action, stressing the importance of moral intuition and the unity of all things.

Biography: Linji Yixuan (died 866 CE) was the founder of the Linji school of Chán Buddhism in China, which became Rinzai Zen in Japan. Philosophical views: He stressed the instantaneous nature of enlightenment and promoted 'shock' techniques to jolt students into realizations.

Biography: Dharmakirti (c. 7th century) was an Indian scholar and Buddhist philosopher who worked on logic and epistemology. Philosophical views: He contributed significantly to Buddhist logic and is considered one of the key thinkers in the pramāṇa (instrument of knowledge) tradition.

Biography: Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769) was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk and revitalizer of the Rinzai school. Philosophical views: His teachings focused on the importance of the kōan practice for achieving enlightenment and insight into one's true nature.

Biography: Vasubandhu (4th–5th century CE) was an Indian Buddhist monk and one of the most prominent figures in the Yogācāra school. Philosophical views: He proposed the theory of 'consciousness-only' (vijñapti-mātratā), which posits that reality is a projection of the mind.

Biography: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975) was an Indian philosopher, writer, and statesman. He was the second President of India. Philosophical views: He advocated for the philosophical idea of Advaita Vedanta and worked to spread Indian philosophy and religion to the Western world.

Biography: Atisha (982–1054 CE) was an Indian Buddhist teacher who played a major role in the diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet. Philosophical views: He is known for reintroducing pure Buddhism in Tibet and for his teachings that became the basis for the Tibetan practice of lojong (mind training).

Biography: Abhinavagupta (c. 950–1020 CE) was an influential Indian philosopher, mystic, and aesthetician in the Kashmir Shaivism tradition. Philosophical views: He wrote extensively on the non-dualistic philosophy known as Pratyabhijna (recognition school) and on the art of drama, poetry, and dance.

Biography: Bodhidharma (c. 5th–6th century CE) was a Buddhist monk traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chán Buddhism to China. Philosophical views: He is associated with the teaching that 'directly pointing to the mind reveals one's true nature and achieves Buddhahood'.

Biography: Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, was an 8th-century Buddhist master credited with establishing Buddhism in Tibet. Philosophical views: His teachings laid the foundation for Nyingma, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and he is revered as the 'second Buddha' in Tibetan culture.