Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 CE)

(Bust of Marcus Aurelius c. Antonine period, AD 161-169, photographed by Ad Meskens, via Creative Commons)

Martin Luther (1483-1546 CE)

(Portrait of Martin Luther as an Augustinian Monk, from the Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) [Public domain], via Creative Commons) 

Mencius

  (Mencius. ETC Wehrner's Myth and Legend, Gutenberg and Commons)

Like many other ancient Chinese writers, historians can only make educated guesses about Mencius' life. The collection of his writings, known simply as Mencius, is divided into seven books, and the descriptions and events within the work give some detail as to the time period Mencius lived in, and the various Chinese states he visited. He was probably alive during the later half of the 4th century BCE. The many ancient states in which Mencius may have wandered about, spreading his interpretation of Confucian philosophy, include Liang, Ch'i, Yen, Tsou, T'eng and Lu.

Mo Tzu

The ancient Chinese philosopher and theologian, Mo Tzu, lived in the 5th century BCE, after the death of Confucius and before the birth of Mencius. No one knows exactly where he was born, but some sources suggest he may have been a native of the ancient states of Sung or Lu. Nevertheless, he left his homeland and became a wanderer, traveling the many kingdoms of China to spread his ideas about life and spirituality. 

Chuang Tzu

The ancient Daoist philosopher, Chuang Tzu, was one of the most brilliantly witty thinkers of his day, and his work still is influential. He was born during the 4th century BCE, in the state of Meng (modern Honan). He was a contemporary of the Confucian scholar, Mencius.