Li Zhi, often known by his pseudonym Zhuowu, was a prominent Chinese philosopher, historian and writer of the late Ming Dynasty.
Background
He was born in Jinjiang, Fujian province (in modern-day Quanzhou). His ancestor by seven generations was Li Nu, the son of Li Lu, a maritime merchant. His father made a living by teaching, and Li Zhi was therefore educated from an early age.
Career
This was recorded in the Lin and Li genealogy《林李宗谱》. In 1551, he passed the village examinations, and five years later was appointed as a lecturer in Gongcheng (in modern Huixian, Henan Province). In 1560 he was then promoted to the Guozijian in Nanjing as a professor, but went into filial mourning, returning to his native Quanzhou.
During this time he participated in the defence of the coastal city against Wokou raids.
After returning from mourning in 1563, he was assigned to the Guozijian in Beijing. He was then assigned as a prefect in Yunnan in 1577, but left his post three years later.
After this, he took up a teaching post in Hubei on the invitation of Geng Dingli, but was attacked as a heretic by Dingli"s brother, the scholar and official Geng Dingxiang, and eventually moved to Macheng. Two years later, his work A Book to Hide was printed.
Returning to Macheng in 1600, he was again forced to leave after attacks from the local magistrate for his philosophical views.
In 1602, after being accused of deceiving society with heretical ideas by Zhang Wenda and other officials of the Censorate, he was arrested and imprisoned, where he committed suicide. Having heard that he was to be exiled to his native Fujian, he cut his throat with a shaving knife which he seized from a servant. After his death, he was buried in Tongzhou, where his grave still remains.
He can be seen as having been influenced by Wang Yangming (1472–1529), as well as the Taizhou School.
He denied that women were inferior to men in native intelligence, and that many historical women such as Empress Wu were actually superior. However, he did not believe women should be emancipated and commended widows who chose suicide over remarriage.
His philosophical works included A Book to Hide and A Book to Burn.