Yang Zhu facts for kids

Yang Zhu ( simplified Chinese: 杨朱; traditional Chinese: 楊朱; pinyin: Yáng Zhū; Wade–Giles: Yang Chu; 440–360 BC), also known as Yang Zi or Yangzi (Master Yang), was an important Chinese philosopher. He lived during a time in China called the Warring States period.

Yang Zhu had ideas about how people should live their lives. His thoughts were different from other popular ideas at the time, like Mohist and Confucianism. Yang Zhu believed in focusing on yourself and your own well-being. We know about his ideas from old Chinese books like Huainanzi, Lüshi Chunqiu, Mengzi, and possibly Liezi and Zhuangzi.

Who Was Yang Zhu?

Yang Zhu was a thinker from ancient China. He lived during a time when many different ideas about life and society were being discussed. This period was known as the Warring States period because different parts of China were often fighting.

His Main Ideas

Yang Zhu's philosophy is often called "ethical egoism." This means he thought people should focus on their own lives and happiness. He believed it was important to protect yourself and your own interests.

• Self-Preservation: One of Yang Zhu's key ideas was weiwo (為我), which means "for myself" or "self-preservation." He believed that taking care of your own body and life was very important. He thought you shouldn't harm yourself or give up your life for others.
• Focus on the Body: Yang Zhu is sometimes credited with "the discovery of the body." This means he emphasized the importance of our physical selves and our natural instincts. He believed people should enjoy life and not suffer unnecessarily.

Yang Zhu's Influence

Even though Yang Zhu's ideas are not as well-known today as some other Chinese philosophers, he was very famous in his own time. Another famous philosopher named Mencius (Mengzi) even talked about Yang Zhu's ideas. Mencius said that Yang Zhu's philosophies, along with those of Mozi (Mo-tzu), were like "floods and wild animals that ravage the land." This shows how powerful and widespread Yang Zhu's ideas were back then.

See also

• In Spanish: Yang Zhu para niños