Central to the philosophical thought of ancient China are the "Sages and Hundred Schools of Thought." The most notable of these are the Confucian, Taoist, Mohist, Dialectician, and Legalist schools of thought. Starting from China's Middle Ages (third to ninth centuries A.D.), the Metaphysical School and Buddhism appeared. Buddhist sects, including the well-known Zen (Ch'an in Chinese), abounded. Neoconfucianism appeared after the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.) and continued to develop over the next 600 years. Confuncianism, Buddhism, and Neoconfucianism all had far-reaching influence on China's neighbors, including Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The main characteristics of Chinese cultural tradition that emerged were "richness of ideas," "historical continuity," and "cultural comprehensiveness."                                  -

excerpt from http://www.taiwaninfo.org/