In order to get full understanding of management culture and practice one must understand the underlying factors. This thesis examines the philosophical foundations for management in the People's Republic of China with its primary focus on the period 1949 -2012. China with its strong economic development in the recent decades is becoming an increasingly important actor in the world economy. Interaction between China and the rest of the word is considerable and currently Chinese firms increasingly expand outside China. This gives further importance especially for westerners to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese views and customs with regard to management.