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Mozi

Mozi

c. 470 BCEc. 391 BCE · Philosopher · Lu (near modern Tengzhou), Shandong

Mozi (Mo Di) was a Chinese philosopher of the early Warring States period and founder of Mohism, a school that rivaled Confucianism for several centuries. Traditionally held to be a native of the state of Lu, he is often described as rising from an artisan background. His teachings, preserved by followers in the text bearing his name, center on jian ai ("impartial care," an even-handed concern for all people), opposition to offensive warfare, frugality in ritual and funerals, meritocratic government, and an appeal to Heaven's will. Skilled in fortification and defensive strategy, he reportedly traveled between states to dissuade rulers from launching invasions.

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Lu (near modern Tengzhou), Shandong

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Thinkers, teachers, and rulers whose lives overlapped with Mozi’s — a glimpse of the wider world they lived in. Drawn purely from recorded birth and death years.

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