Xizhai is the art name of Yan Yuan (courtesy name Yizhi or Hunran), a Chinese classicist, essayist, and philosopher. He is primarily recognized for founding the practical school of Confucianism as a reaction against the Neo-Confucianism that had dominated China for six centuries.
Yan Yuan's philosophy was characterized by a rejection of abstract metaphysics in favor of pragmatism. While he drew inspiration from Han learning scholars, he critiqued their heavy focus on philology and textual criticism, advocating instead for a more practical application of Confucian principles. His school specifically promoted the Six Arts.