This paper discusses the development and change of academic thought over the two thousand and one hundred years from the Han Dynasty (B.C. 202 - A.D. 220) to the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1644 - 1911). This paper gives a systematic and in-depth discussion on the background, contents, theory structure, and influence of the following five areas of academic thought: -the study of Jing (經學), meaning the learning devoted to the study of the classics, during the Early and Late Han Dynasty. -the study of Hsuan (玄學), meaning Taoism/spiritualism during the Wei and Jin Dynasties. -the study of Buddhism (佛學) during the Sui and Tang Dynasty. -the study of Li (理學), meaning studying the classics with a rational approach, during the Sung and Ming Dynasties. -the study of Pu (樸學), meaning textual study of the classics, during the Qing Dynasty.