Wang Fuzhi

Wang Fuzhi, or just plain Wang as he was known to his associates (and presumably, his mother), lived through one of the most turbulent periods in Chinese history. While the Ming Dynasty was busy collapsing and the Qing Dynasty was busy conquering, Wang Fuzhi was busy... writing. A lot. Which, considering the circumstances, was probably safer than, say, trying to raise an army.

His philosophical contributions were wide-ranging, encompassing metaphysics, ethics, and epistemology. He wasn't afraid to critique established neo-Confucian thought, which is always a good way to ensure future generations will argue endlessly over your true meaning. His commitment to Ming loyalism, however, meant he spent his later years in reclusion, pensively pondering the fall of empires and filling many scrolls with his thoughts.

For a man who wrote so much about the world, the world of