Xunzi
Xunzi was a Chinese philosopher who lived during the Warring States period. He is considered one of the most important thinkers in the Confucian tradition, although his ideas diverged from those of Confucius in some significant ways. Xunzi's philosophy focused on the importance of rituals and social norms in maintaining a stable and harmonious society. He believed that human nature was inherently self-interested and that people needed to be taught to value the greater good over their own desires. Xunzi's ideas about the role of government and the importance of education have had a lasting impact on Chinese thought and culture. In the hierarchy of "Religions/Taoism/Philosophy," Xunzi represents a specific philosophical school of thought that was influential in the development of Taoist and Confucian philosophy, and which continues to be studied and debated by scholars today.