What is the status of Taoism and Buddhism in China?

Ji Lao has studied this problem for many years. The following is an excerpt.

Ji Xianlin: The Relationship among Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism

Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have always occupied a very important position in the history of China thought. Obviously, Confucianism originated from Confucius. Buddhism originated from Sakyamuni, which is unambiguous. Unique Taoism, although claiming to be a disciple of Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi, and the theory of "Huang Lao" was once very popular in the early Han Dynasty, Taoism after the Han Dynasty was actually founded by Zhang Daoling. Of these three schools, Confucianism and Taoism are indigenous, while Buddhism comes from India. Buddhism and Taoism are both authentic religions. Confucianism is generally not considered as a religion. Since the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it has generally been called the Three Schools or Three Religions. Tao Hongjing said: "There is no place beyond the three religions." (Maoshan Changsha pavilion monument). He called these three schools "teaching".

What I want to talk about here is the relationship between the three schools from the introduction of Buddhism into China to Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty.

Let's talk about the relationship between Buddhism and Taoism.

After Buddhism was introduced into China in Han Dynasty, it was attached to the magic of ghosts and gods, which was related to Taoism. At that time, many emperors, such as Wang Ying and Emperor Huan of Chu, offered sacrifices to these two emperors. Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Volume 42, Biography of Ten Kings of Guangwu and Biography of Wang Chuying, said: "Evening Festival favors Huang Lao and learns to fast, which is a tower sacrifice." Purple Tongzhi Sword was published in the Fifth Five-Year Plan. In the ninth year of Huan (A.D. 166), Xiang Kai wrote: "The three temples of Huang, Lao and Fu Tu were heard in the palace, and this road was empty, and nothing happened. You are good at killing, you have to go to luxury. " But there are also contradictions between Buddhism and Taoism. Theoretically speaking, Buddhism has a whole set of theories. The theoretical basis of Taoism is relatively thin, and it is impossible to come up with any complete set of things at first. After it met with foreign Buddhism, it was inevitable that they collided because of theoretical contradictions (essentially economic contradictions). Taoism is not an opponent of Buddhism in theory except for some prescriptions such as eating alchemy. After several rounds of fighting, I was defeated. Taoism then used the usual methods: on the one hand, it desperately opposed Buddhism; On the other hand, he secretly copied Buddhist teachings. Taiping Jing is the product of this technique. In addition, it also shows a technique that is often used in the future: You say the pagoda is good, but in fact, he is from China, and Lao Tzu went to change Hu, and ordered Yin to be reincarnated as Sakyamuni. Old Zi Hua Hu Jing is the product of this technology. The legend of this book was forged by Wang Fu, a Taoist priest in the Western Jin Dynasty. I'm afraid it is also based on old news, which represents a trend of thought. Even Qian's Rong Zhuan said, "The things in the pagoda are different from those in China. Gai thought that I went to the Western Heaven and crossed the Western Regions, and taught Hu to serve the earth as a disciple, nicknamed 29. " It can be seen that the story of Lao Zi Hu Hua has spread in Wei. There are many places in the Taoist scriptures we have mastered today that are copied from Buddhist scriptures, so I won't discuss them in detail here.

Although Taoism is not an opponent of Buddhism in theory, it is indigenous and is the easiest to use against foreign Buddhism. So it is often used by rulers. We can even say that without the introduction and prosperity of Buddhism, Taoism might not spread. Han nationality has a set of ethical dogmas: Jun Jun, minister, father, son and so on, which are the basis of rule. Of course, this is Confucianism, but Taoism has not violated it, and Buddhism has only destroyed it, which is a very unfavorable aspect of the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism.

According to the general law in the history of world religions, religion is exclusive. Here, the reason is not due to the differences in religious beliefs and theories as most people think. If you say so, it is only a superficial theory, and the key is economic interests. To attack others and win over believers is to win over charity and temple property. The dispute between Buddhism and Taoism is no exception.

What we are talking about here is the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism in the late Han Dynasty, which can only be regarded as the origin. This struggle has been going on, even in the ancient history of China. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Kou (365-448 AD), a Taoist master in the Northern Yuan and Wei Dynasties, combined Taoism with Confucianism. He encouraged Wu Tai, the Emperor of the Yuan and Wei Dynasties, to destroy the Buddha through Ho Choi, and taught the emperor to set up a temple to worship monks. However, Taoist priests did not have magical powers, and later emperors emphasized Buddhism. During Ming Di's reign of filial piety, Buddhism and Taoism had a heated debate on the court, and Taoism failed several times.

At first, Emperor Wu of Zhou followed the Buddha, but he wanted to make great efforts to govern. He felt that Buddhism and Taoism were not his choice, but only advocated Confucianism, and finally developed to the point of destroying Buddhism. The so-called "Three Extinctions to Destroy the Buddha" is one of them, and so is Emperor Wu of Zhou.

Ge Hong (284-364 AD) and Tao Hongjing (456-536 AD) were important representatives of Taoism in the Southern Dynasties. Ge Hong wrote Bao Puzi and put forward the concept of "Xuan" as the root of all things in the world. He strongly advocated taking Dan medicine and seeking immortality. Tao Hongjing is the author of True Patent Certificate. He is also a famous alchemist and politician, nicknamed "Prime Minister in the Mountain". Ge, Tao Dou in the daytime hype soaring, immortal achievements. This fantasy is exactly what the ruler wants. On the surface, it is similar to the basic idea of Buddhism. Buddhism advocates that life is illusory, pursues liberation and nirvana, jumps out of "samsara" and advocates "no life". As a result, there was a heated debate. Almost one-third of the articles in The Collection of Hongming written by the eminent monk Liang You and Guang Hongming written by Tang Daoxuan argued with Taoism. It can be seen that the contradiction between the two is sharp. But in the bones, there is not much difference between the two. Like all religions in the world, they all sell tickets to heaven, but in different ways. So they have room to learn from each other and influence each other, and they can serve the same feudal ruler. The miracle of Li Laojun's birth is completely copying the story of Sakyamuni's birth. The precepts of Taoism are also completely imitating Buddhism. Hui Si of Nanyue, the second ancestor of Tiantai Sect of Buddhism (AD 5 15~577), copied from Taoism and repeatedly mentioned immortals, Cao Zhi and Inner Dan, hoping to cultivate Inner Dan through outer Dan and pray for longevity. Sima Shi Cheng Zhen, a disciple of Tao Hongjing (647-735 AD, from the 21st year of Zhenguan to the 23rd year of Kaiyuan), absorbed the spirit of the Northern Dynasties, paid no attention to alchemy, eating and magic, but paid attention to the theoretical study of Taoism, and advocated keeping away from learning, cultivating the mind and cultivating the mind. Here, he was obviously influenced by Buddhism. These simple examples can fully explain how Buddhism and Taoism learn from each other and influence each other.

However, the contradiction between Buddhism and Taoism has not decreased. In the early Tang Dynasty, this contradiction reached a new stage. Taoism is the state religion, which was strongly advocated by the rulers in the early Tang Dynasty, so it obviously gained the upper hand in the struggle between the two religions. The most prominent event in this period is the so-called "Fu Yi Buddhism". Fu Yi was born in the first year of Liang Shaotai (AD 555) and died in the thirteenth year of Emperor Taizong's Zhenguan (AD 639). He was a famous atheist and natural scientist in Sui and early Tang Dynasties. He is in charge of astronomy and calendar calculation. Perhaps because he wrote Laozi's Note, Buddhists called him a Taoist. Tang Yan-Yan's "Biography of Saman Fa Lin, the protector of the Tang Dynasty" said, "There was a Taoist priest who ordered Fu Yi, and the party learned it first, so there were ten things to abolish the Buddha." 50, 198c. There may be slander, which means that "personal attack" has nothing to do with us. Fu Yichuan, Volume 79 of Old Tang Book, said that after seven years of martial arts, I was suddenly sparse, so please get rid of the Buddha. "So, you are unfaithful and unfilial, you cut your hair and bow to your loved ones; You can swim, you can eat, and you can easily take it to escape the rent. " In just a few words, the root cause of anti-Buddhism was revealed. The first two sentences are about maintaining feudal social order, while the last two sentences are about Buddhism destroying production and evading taxes. Both of them are the lifeblood of feudal rulers and cannot be touched. Fu Yi said again; "Life and death are all due to nature; Criminal morality is powerful and is the master of customs. " This refutes Buddhism in theory. The Collection of Hong Guangming contains many memorials of Fu Yi. These scripts say, "when you hit the door of the gentleman, you are turned over by the bald evil ring;" Confucian learning, talking about demons and ghosts. " 52160 b. Say it again; "If you don't do it for a long time, you will pick the ten evils." 952, 160c. He also said: "There are few kings in the sea, but many enjoy themselves; This is foreign affairs Hoover, born in Jaken; Cut your hair, shave your hair and get dressed. Out of the courtier's door, into the house of monks and nuns; Wang Liwei is quite good, sitting on his knees, unfaithful and unfilial, and married. " 52, 16 1c~ 162a. He also said: "The conference semifinals in the western regions were born in evil mud and knew how to make mud tiles; Today, I am still ashamed of myself. I am a man with a face and a beast's heart. I am a Taoist, a donkey and a mule. I am a greedy and rebellious vicious bastard. "52163 B. This is simply swearing, and" personal attack "has reached the extreme. However, there are still two points in the argument: first, maintaining feudal ethics and maintaining feudal order; First, protect productive forces and protect national wealth. Fu Yi warned her son before she died; Lao He Zhuang Xuanyi's articles and Zhou He Kong's Six Classics are all taught in the name of fame, so we should learn from them. Book of Old Tang Dynasty, Volume 79. It can be seen that it is a general trend that he violently fired at Buddhism from the standpoint of Taoism and Confucianism.

Now let's talk about the relationship between Confucianism and Taoism.

As mentioned above, both Confucianism and Taoism were born and raised in China. Therefore, even if there are some contradictions sometimes, on the whole, the relationship between them is relatively harmonious. China always said that Confucius was a student of Laozi. Whether this is true or not, at least it reflects the close relationship between the two. There were several emperors in ancient China who served Confucianism and Taoism. For example, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was an ancient monarch. In order to consolidate feudal rule, he respected Confucianism and ousted hundreds of schools. But in his later years, he sought immortality, believed in alchemists and was close to Taoism. Xia Zeng once commented on Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi in the Ancient History of China (page 256): "As far as the lives of the two kings are concerned, their actions can be divided into three major purposes. Respect Confucianism for one day, trust alchemists for two days and be good at fighting for three days. On the surface, these three things are contradictory and unreasonable. If you respect Confucianism, why worship immortals? Why do you admire immortals and kill them? Since then, people have been suspected of madness. " In any case, these examples show that Confucianism and Taoism can coexist. In the long history, the relationship between Confucianism and Taoism is not as tense as their relationship with Buddhism. Long-term historical facts have proved the same truth.

Finally, talk about the relationship between Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.

When Buddhism was first introduced, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism were not contradictory. The Theory of Reason and Confusion written by Mou Rong in the later Han Dynasty communicated the meaning of the two schools. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Buddhist monk society itself was Buddhism, but it advocated the theory of harmony between the two factions. According to Biography of Liang Monk, Volume I Biography of Kang Sanghui, Kang Sanghui answered Sun Hao; "It is easy to say that Qing Yu is a good man, and poetry is a blessing. Although the motto of Confucianism is a clear precept of Buddhism. " 50,325 degrees Celsius.

During the Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Confucians either used Buddhist names to satisfy themselves or ignored them, as if there was no such theory in the world. Metaphysics, which was popular in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was the expression of Confucian feudal thought. At this time, Buddhism and Confucianism combined with each other and complemented each other, which was not contradictory. Sun Chuo, originally a Confucian, once commented on The Analects of Confucius. He also traveled with Zhi Dun, a famous monk, and wrote On Metaphor and Taoism, which shows that Confucius was originally a family. He said: "Zhou and Confucius are Buddha, and Buddha is Zhou and Confucius, covering the inner and outer ears." At this time, most Confucian scholars turned to Buddhism, while Buddhist disciples did not abolish Confucianism. Lei Cizong and Zong Bing, the so-called eighteen outstanding figures in Lushan Mountain, both practiced pure land as Confucian scholars. Hui Yuan's in-depth study of Confucianism as a monk is the most typical example. During the reign of Xiao Liang, both religions paid equal attention. This is also a well-known fact. Yan Zhitui in Northern Qi paid equal attention to Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The Sui Dynasty used Confucianism to explain Taoism, and had a tendency to integrate the three religions. From the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, many eminent monks of Yi Studies were born in Confucian gentry. Once these family members fall out of power, they often cling to Buddhism. The news is very interesting. These people had cultivated Confucianism and metaphysics before they converted to Buddhism. The close relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism is also conceivable. Xuanzang himself is a Confucian, and this issue will be discussed later. See topic 12 of this book, "About Xuanzang". .

At this time, Buddhism mainly attacked Taoism and rarely dared to criticize Confucianism. Because Confucianism is imperial, criticizing Confucianism is tantamount to criticizing the court. But this is not entirely the case. Whenever there is an opportunity, Buddhists always shoot a few arrows at Confucianism in the back. For example, Hua Yanzong sentenced to teach: First, people taught Heaven; Second, the Hinayana teaching method; Third, Mahayana teaching; Fourth, Mahayana disfigurement teaching; Fifth, relying on explicit teaching. Besides the five religions, there are also the lowest religions: Taoism and Confucianism. See Ren's Collection of Buddhist Thoughts in Han and Tang Dynasties: A Brief Discussion on Tiantai Sect's Philosophical Thought, p. 67. . Here, Buddhists put Confucianism in the lowest position. Ironically, although Hua Yanzong sentenced Confucianism to the lowest level, Neo-Confucianism scholars Cheng and Zhu tried their best to copy Buddhism, especially Hua Yanzong's theory. What Cheng and Zhu preach is actually a copy of Hua Yanzong's thought that "directors do not hinder the legal profession, and everything does not hinder the legal profession".

Confucian scholars in the Tang Dynasty opposed Buddhism with the same attitude and superficial theory. The most famous Buddha is Han Yu, a typical shallow person. Judging from his famous book The Original Road, he probably doesn't know much about Buddhism. He only opposed Buddhism by protecting national culture, adhering to China's academic tradition, that is, the so-called orthodoxy, and maintaining Confucianism's self-cultivation, knowledge, honesty, self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country and leveling the world. Buddhists only talk about personal practice and don't care about state affairs. This made Han Yu of Confucianism very dissatisfied. As soon as a person becomes a monk, he will no longer engage in production, and the exploitation and economic interests of the ruling class will be harmed. This made Han Yu even more dissatisfied. So he advocated Buddhism, and he opposed idealism with idealism. His Buddhism has nothing to do with the philosophical system. The situation of Liu Zongyuan and Liu Yuxi is similar. They are basically materialists, but they all admire Buddhism. Liu Zongyuan said, "I have been a good Buddha since I was a child. May my teachings accumulate for 30 years." (Preface to Sending Buddha) shows his deep love for Buddha. Liu Yuxi also mentioned Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism side by side, and had no intention of opening Buddha. He also believes that Confucianism is a "silent life" and is suitable for governing the world; Buddhism stresses the mind, saves all suffering with great compassion, and is theistic, which is suitable for troubled times. In a word, both of them believe in Buddhism as materialists, which shows that it has nothing to do with the theoretical system. It seems that they just want to seek spiritual comfort in another world (nirvana).

Of course, the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty is not limited to the above situation, nor to Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan and Liu Yuxi. After Buddhism was introduced into China, the relationship between Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism occupied a certain position in the whole history of China thought, and the relationship between them was also very complicated. Because it has little to do with what we are talking about now, I won't go into details. For the situation before the Tang Dynasty, please refer to Gao Guanru's The Relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism before the Tang Dynasty, and see Tiny SoundNo. 1, 1926,1.05.