Editing Chinese philosophy (section)

== Concepts ==
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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:
* {{lang|ko|道}} [[Tao|Dao]] (the Way, or one's doctrine)
* {{lang|ko|德}} [[De (Chinese)|De]] (virtue, power)
* {{lang|zh-hant|理}} [[Li (Neo-Confucianism)|Li]] (principle, [[Chinese law|Law]])
* {{lang|zh-hant|氣}} [[Qi]] (vital energy or material force)
* {{lang|zh-hant|太極}}The ''[[Taiji (philosophy)|Tai-chi]]'' (''Great Heavenly Axis'') forms a unity of the two complementary polarities, ''[[Yin and Yang]]''. The word ''Yin'' originally referred to a hillside facing away from the sun. Philosophically, it stands the dark, passive, feminine principle; whereas ''Yang'' (the hillside facing the sun) stands for the bright, active, masculine principle. Yin and Yang are not antagonistic, they alternate in inverse proportion to one another—like the rise and fall of a [[wave]] and are known by their comparison.

Among the commonalities of Chinese philosophies are:
* The tendency not to view man as separate from nature.
* Questions about the nature and existence of a [[Chinese names for the God of Abrahamic religions|monotheistic deity]], which have profoundly influenced Western philosophy, have not been important in Chinese philosophies or a source of great conflict in [[Chinese traditional religion]].
* The belief that the purpose of philosophy is primarily to serve as an ethical and practical guide.
* The political focus: most scholars of the [[Hundred Schools of Thought|Hundred Schools]] were trying to convince the ruler to behave in the way they defended.