Abstract Based on social exchange theory, conservation of resource theory and territorial behavior theory, this study explores the influence mechanism of Zhong-yong thinking on knowledge hiding and employees’ creativity in Chinese context. The research results show that Zhong-yong thinking has a significant positive impact on employee creativity. Secondly, knowledge hiding partially mediates the relationship between Zhong-yong thinking and employees’ creativity. Lastly, knowledge-based psychological ownership moderates the relationship between Zhong-yong thinking and knowledge hiding, and Zhong-yong thinking has a stronger negative impact on knowledge hiding when employees have higher level knowledge-based psychological ownership.
