Confucianism and "religious communication"
2022-05-31
"Religious communion" is a topic of concern in the religious and religious circles recently. Here we will only discuss the three links of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. As for the meaning of "communication", according to my understanding, it refers to the consistency and similarity of theory or practice, the search and affirmation of such a sense of consistency, and the resolution of opposition and tension. In the past 20 years, "religious dialogue" has been affirmed by everyone. Religious dialogue is a way to seek communication and understanding between religions and properly understand each other's beliefs and practices. Religious dialogue is a communication method applicable to the situation of serious religious opposition in some regions of the world today. It is the most basic and primary way to develop mutual understanding among religions, and it is also a basic step to make religions move from serious conflict and opposition to relaxation. It is worth affirming. In the history of Chinese culture, there was no serious confrontation and conflict between religions. The vast majority of dynasties supported Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism at the same time. Although the degree of support was different, the efforts of the three religions to connect have been continuous for thousands of years, which has become an undeniable historical fact. The efforts of the three religions' association do not mean to strive for the three religions to become one, but to make the three religions consciously understand the similarities between different schools and resolve unnecessary conflicts. Therefore, "religious communion" is different from religious dialogue. It is a way to deal with mutual relations suitable for the history of religious relations in China. It is a more progressive way of religious understanding than religious dialogue. So, in the history of China, what is the attitude of Confucianism towards interfaith communication? What are the resources and characteristics of Confucianism in dealing with the problem of "religious communication"? The First of all, in terms of social ethics, Confucianism Values benevolence and Buddhism values compassion. Benevolence and kindness are regarded as "the same name", and it is believed that "the five precepts and the five constant return to the same place". The communication of Chinese religions in this regard has begun very early. Yan Zhitui, a Confucian scholar in the southern and Northern Dynasties, put forward in Yan's family instructions: "at the beginning of the internal code, there are five kinds of prohibitions, which are consistent with the five constants in the external book. The benevolent do not kill, the righteous do not steal, the polite do not evil, the wise do not drink, and the believer does not deceive." (chapter of returning to the heart) comparing the "five precepts" of Buddhism with the "five constant" of Confucianism is the most common practice since the northern and Southern Dynasties, which indicates that Confucianism attaches great importance to thinking about the communication of different religious systems from the consistency or compatibility of social ethics of different religions. In the Northern Song Dynasty, most of them learned Confucianism and Buddhism by distinguishing between the origin and the end and the traces of Taoism. Song Zhenzong, who is also the "three religions of Rites", inherited Yan Zhitui's saying: "the book of Shi's commandments is different from that of Zhou Kong, Xun and Meng. It refers to the good of persuading people and the evil of banning people. If you do not kill, you will be benevolent, if you do not steal, you will be cheap, if you are not confused, you will believe, if you are not arrogant, you will be right, and if you are not drunk, you will be Zhuang." (see the forty-four annals of Buddha) this is to emphasize the mastery of Confucianism and Buddhism in ethical values and moral norms, and to believe that the differences among Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are only superficial differences, which are consistent in the fundamental road, and in the two aspects of beneficial enlightenment and social governance; Their similarities are fundamental and their differences are final. It is believed that the common ground of the three religions is to persuade the good and prohibit the evil, and to correct people's mind. From the perspective of the ethical, social and political functions of different religions, it should be said that Confucianism focuses on observing religious issues. Second, in terms of governing the country, at least since the northern and Southern Dynasties, China has formed a tradition of governing the Tao, that is, the rulers or rulers support the three religions at the same time. This simultaneous support for the three religions is not from the standpoint of fooling the people, but on the basis of clearly recognizing their respective characteristics and strengths, seeking their complementary functions, that is, focusing on observing the characteristics and limitations of different religions from the overall needs of the society, affirming each other, and arranging the three religions as a unified and complementary structure as a whole, so that the three religions can do their best. People in the Northern Song Dynasty once said that "self-cultivation should be based on Confucianism, and the mind should be governed by Buddhism". Inspired by this, song Xiaozong once wrote the original Tao theory, which discusses the three religions' communication, Claim: "Shi is poor in life and appearance, and has nothing to do with the world. How can he be benevolent and righteous? However, he still set a precept of not killing, not lusting, not stealing, not lying, and not drinking. If a man does not kill, he will be benevolent. If he does not lust, he will be polite. If he does not steal, he will be righteous. If he does not talk falsely, he will believe. If he does not drink, he will be wise. How far is this from Zhongni? He is calm and moderate, and he is also a saint. What is a saint doing? Which is not ritual? Which is not benevolent? What is evil? For example, the movement of heaven and earth, yin and Yang If the cycle is groundless, how can there be a difference between spring, summer, autumn and winter? This is the world's strong name, but also the difference between benevolence, righteousness, etiquette and music. Therefore, the sage set up education to govern the world, so he had to do so Or: how to get rid of the confusion? He said: cultivate the mind with Buddhism, maintain health with Taoism, and govern the world with Confucianism. Only saints can do the same, and we can't ignore it. " (see the forty-seven annals of Buddha) this statement is the most popular. It means that the three religions can not only complement each other in education, but also complement each other in many aspects, such as life's internal cultivation and external social governance. Although Xiaozong is not a Confucian scholar, his basic position is the entry into the WTO based on Confucianism, Confucius and saints, which shows that the politics dominated by Confucianism pays attention to comprehensively considering the communication of religions from the role of different religions in social politics. This concept goes beyond the position of a single religion. It is not only an affirmation of multiple religions, but also a form of practice towards "beauty and co-existence". In this sense, it can be regarded as a management concept of Confucianism. Such a political management concept fundamentally limits the possibility of religious conflict in the policy concept of political governance. Because in such a political perspective, the three religions have become a force to jointly serve the cultivation of the people and social governance. Third, in terms of ideology and theory, as early as in the series of words of the Confucian classic Zhouyi, an academic view was put forward, that is, "the world returns to the same destination but takes different paths, and the world is consistent but full of worries", which has a far-reaching impact on later generations and has become the basis for the possible popularization of religion. "Bai Xie" refers to various doctrines and theories, as well as various religious systems. This thought holds that different academic systems have the same fundamental purpose. These different academic systems advocate different methods, but tend to have the same goal. This thinking mode of "unity and consideration" accommodates the diverse development of "religious communication" in theory and practice. For example, Buddhism was introduced into China at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the trend of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism was gradually formed. In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the idea of "being able to pass through Confucius and Taoism", that is, "being able to pass through Confucianism and Taoism", became a major topic of thought in this period. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, "Confucianism and Buddhism will be able to communicate" was constantly discussed, reflecting the efforts of Confucianism to seek to communicate with other religious ideas. In the Song Dynasty, Neo Confucianism also put forward the proposition that "reason is one but different". In the sense of academic view, this proposition also contains such thinking, that is, different religions have the same pursuit of fundamental truth and fundamental good, but the ways and methods of pursuit are different, and the expression of truth in the content of the theory is different. Understanding religious relations in this way will lead to mutual absorption, tolerance and respect among religions, and will naturally recognize the possibility of communication between different religions. In the Ming Dynasty, the ideological trend of "three religions in one" developed further, which also caused many direct responses within the Confucianism. For example, WangYangming, the great philosopher of the Ming Dynasty, once put forward the famous metaphor of "three halls". He said that the Confucian theory system is like three halls. The left one is connected with Buddhism, and the right one is connected with Taoism. This means that there are parts of Confucianism that are interlinked with Buddhism and Taoism. From this standpoint, Confucianism and Buddhism and Taoism are not opposites, but can be understood. He also pointed out that for saints, "Confucianism, Buddhism, Laozi and Zhuangzi are all for our use, which is called the great road", that is to say, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are all different uses of the great road. Jiao Hong, a scholar of the late Yangming Dynasty, said: "Tao is my own thing. I only bother xuanni and Qu Tan to tell the truth. It is not a saint or a Buddha." It is believed that Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are not separate ways, but the fundamental way that is consistent and unified with saints. In Chinese history, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have coexisted for a long time, but there has never been a large-scale armed conflict between the three religions, let alone a long-term religious war in the history of Western religions. Although Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have debated in theory, they live in peace in the society, and the concept of harmony among the three religions is very popular in the society. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the main religions in China have gradually changed from the three religions to the five major religions, and the religions in the world today are more diverse. Reviewing and understanding the views of ancient Confucianism is of positive significance to the development of inclusiveness and pluralism in contemporary religious relations. (outlook new era)
Edit：Yuanqi Tang Responsible editor：Xiao Yu
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