confucius——great chinese thinker and philosopher

Welcome to myLot! Yes, because Confucius was not recognized in his own time, apparently, what we know of him is handed down by and through others, much as is the case with Socrates. Because of this, his thought could be interpreted and used by politicians who wanted society to conform to certain ideas, particularly obedience and conformity. That was certainly not Confucius's fault, and in truth he seems to have "invented" ideas that suggest he believed much more in individual rights than is commonly thought to be so, at least by people here in the west. However Lao Tse, another great Chinese thinker, although some 4 centuries older, is more accessible to many of us because his legendary stance against authoritarianism. Although any real connection between Confucius himself and what we know of Confucianism in thought is uncertain, it also appears to be unclear that Lao Tse even existed, so that could be a problem, too. Nevertheless the literature that has come down to us through the followers of each of these great men is truly interesting and inspiring. Do you know of any great Chinese philosophers who were women?