PHILOSOPHER
Han Yu
768 - 824

Han Yu
Han Yu (Chinese: 韓愈; 768 – 25 December 824), courtesy name Tuizhi (Chinese: 退之), and commonly known by his posthumous name Han Wengong (韓文公), was an essayist, Confucian scholar, poet, and government official during the Tang dynasty who significantly influenced the development of Neo-Confucianism. Described as "comparable in stature to Dante, Shakespeare or Goethe" for his influence on the Chinese literary tradition, Han Yu stood for strong central authority in politics and orthodoxy in cultural matters. He is often considered to be among China's finest prose writers. Ming dynasty scholar Mao Kun (茅坤) ranked him first among the "Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song". Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Han Yu is the 334th most popular philosopher (up from 360th in 2019), the 192nd most popular biography from China (up from 239th in 2019) and the 13th most popular Chinese Philosopher.
Han Yu is most famous for his advocacy of the use of the vernacular language in literature.
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Among PHILOSOPHERS
Among philosophers, Han Yu ranks 334 out of 1,267. Before him are Hugh of Saint Victor, Giovanni Gentile, Isaac Abarbanel, Asanga, Juan Luis Vives, and Martianus Capella. After him are Jacobus Arminius, Nicolai Hartmann, Alexandre Kojève, Judith Butler, John Searle, and Johann Georg Hamann.
Most Popular Philosophers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsHugh of Saint Victor
1096 - 1141
HPI: 69.99
Rank: 328
Giovanni Gentile
1875 - 1944
HPI: 69.95
Rank: 329
Isaac Abarbanel
1437 - 1508
HPI: 69.94
Rank: 330
Asanga
300 - 301
HPI: 69.93
Rank: 331
Juan Luis Vives
1492 - 1540
HPI: 69.90
Rank: 332
Martianus Capella
360 - 428
HPI: 69.90
Rank: 333
Han Yu
768 - 824
HPI: 69.83
Rank: 334
Jacobus Arminius
1560 - 1609
HPI: 69.78
Rank: 335
Nicolai Hartmann
1882 - 1950
HPI: 69.77
Rank: 336
Alexandre Kojève
1902 - 1968
HPI: 69.73
Rank: 337
Judith Butler
1956 - Present
HPI: 69.72
Rank: 338
John Searle
1932 - 2025
HPI: 69.67
Rank: 339
Johann Georg Hamann
1730 - 1788
HPI: 69.67
Rank: 340
Contemporaries
Among people born in 768, Han Yu ranks 1. After him is Xue Tao. Among people deceased in 824, Han Yu ranks 2. Before him is Pope Paschal I. After him are Emperor Heizei, and Emperor Muzong of Tang.
Others Born in 768
Go to all RankingsOthers Deceased in 824
Go to all RankingsPope Paschal I
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
775 - 824
HPI: 78.70
Rank: 1
Han Yu
PHILOSOPHER
768 - 824
HPI: 69.83
Rank: 2
Emperor Heizei
POLITICIAN
773 - 824
HPI: 66.00
Rank: 3
Emperor Muzong of Tang
POLITICIAN
795 - 824
HPI: 64.96
Rank: 4
In China
Among people born in China, Han Yu ranks 192 out of 1,610. Before him are King Wen of Zhou (-1112), Yuan Shu (155), Ban Gu (32), Liu Hui (225), Benedict Anderson (1936), and Ma Chao (176). After him are Lin Zexu (1785), King Wu of Zhou (-1150), Zhao Yun (168), Wang Anshi (1021), Longqing Emperor (1537), and Li Peng (1928).
Others born in China
Go to all RankingsKing Wen of Zhou
POLITICIAN
1112 BC - 1050 BC
HPI: 70.02
Rank: 186
Yuan Shu
POLITICIAN
155 - 199
HPI: 69.92
Rank: 187
Ban Gu
WRITER
32 - 92
HPI: 69.92
Rank: 188
Liu Hui
MATHEMATICIAN
225 - 295
HPI: 69.90
Rank: 189
Benedict Anderson
POLITICAL SCIENTIST
1936 - 2015
HPI: 69.90
Rank: 190
Ma Chao
POLITICIAN
176 - 222
HPI: 69.84
Rank: 191
Han Yu
PHILOSOPHER
768 - 824
HPI: 69.83
Rank: 192
Lin Zexu
POLITICIAN
1785 - 1850
HPI: 69.83
Rank: 193
King Wu of Zhou
POLITICIAN
1150 BC - 1043 BC
HPI: 69.82
Rank: 194
Zhao Yun
MILITARY PERSONNEL
168 - 229
HPI: 69.82
Rank: 195
Wang Anshi
ECONOMIST
1021 - 1086
HPI: 69.81
Rank: 196
Longqing Emperor
POLITICIAN
1537 - 1572
HPI: 69.78
Rank: 197
Li Peng
POLITICIAN
1928 - 2019
HPI: 69.74
Rank: 198
Among PHILOSOPHERS In China
Among philosophers born in China, Han Yu ranks 13. Before him are Mozi (-470), Han Fei (-280), Xun Kuang (-313), Milarepa (1052), Shen Kuo (1031), and Wang Yangming (1472). After him are Ban Zhao (45), Guan Zhong (-720), Dong Zhongshu (-179), Zhiyi (538), Ge Hong (284), and Linji Yixuan (850).
Mozi
470 BC - 391 BC
HPI: 76.56
Rank: 7
Han Fei
280 BC - 232 BC
HPI: 75.88
Rank: 8
Xun Kuang
313 BC - 238 BC
HPI: 75.28
Rank: 9
Milarepa
1052 - 1135
HPI: 72.51
Rank: 10
Shen Kuo
1031 - 1095
HPI: 72.33
Rank: 11
Wang Yangming
1472 - 1529
HPI: 70.74
Rank: 12
Han Yu
768 - 824
HPI: 69.83
Rank: 13
Ban Zhao
45 - 115
HPI: 68.55
Rank: 14
Guan Zhong
720 BC - 645 BC
HPI: 68.47
Rank: 15
Dong Zhongshu
179 BC - 104 BC
HPI: 67.73
Rank: 16
Zhiyi
538 - 597
HPI: 67.35
Rank: 17
Ge Hong
284 - 364
HPI: 67.24
Rank: 18
Linji Yixuan
850 - 866
HPI: 67.20
Rank: 19