王夫之

From 衡阳 in Hunan, he raised troops against the Qing in 1648 and served the Southern Ming court for a time, then spent some forty years living in seclusion in the hills, writing on the classics, history and philosophy. His works were little known until 曾国藩 had them printed in the 1860s. With 顾炎武 and 黄宗羲 he is counted among the three great thinkers of the late Ming.

His 《读通鉴论》 comments, reign by reign, on the history in 司马光's 《资治通鉴》. He summed up his life's aim in a couplet beginning 六经责我开生面, 'the Six Classics charge me to open them to new eyes'.