Confucianism , Taoism and Buddhism [Abstract] Chinese culture has really huge containment between different ideas. It is surprising that these three different thoughts can exist peacefully in China. From the surface , It seems that these ideas are totally different , actually there are something in common which all of them have together. It is said combination of three religions. However, there are also the differences between them.
[Key words] Confucianism Taoism Buddhism common point differences
To begin with, in my opinion, the common point which the three ideas have is that they have the same understanding of the humanity. All of the theories of the humanity are based on human nature and popular feeling. They showed the wisdom of human nature by the behavior of moral cultivation. What they both
concentrate on is aspiring the syncretism between ideal of life and virtue. The Confucianism Taoism and Buddhism support achieving the perfect personality during the reality. They seek the momentary eternal and metaphysical wisdom.
From the disposition, the three ideas are all come into the world and then go back with the wisdom of mercy and peace . they hope people do the beneficial jobs with an insular heart. The Buddha said “Saints duffer as to how to understand nothing”, the founder of Taoism said ”Frequent Non-action and Limitless Action.” And what’s more, the Confucius said “I am in a consistent”. All of them showed the invisible realm into our tangible world. They presume and describe the beauty of the human nature with different ways and appellation.
Actually, Confucius and Taoism have the same homology. And Taoism and Buddhism pay attention to the individual accomplishment of life. They attach importance to realizing ideal personality and show the value of human concern with different ways.
Confucianism uses a positive spirit to advocate the achievement of the highest moral realm in the real world and the realization of the value of life. Taoism emphasizes the existence value of individual. It would like to explore the value of human life during the process of the syncretism of human and Tao.
The Buddhist is concerned with human life care can never eliminate the pain of the contrast between desire and reality. It hopes reflect the value of life in the desire to exercise restraint and the pursuit of nirvana.
Secondly, these ideas three from different angles to provide spiritual impetus, to help people's pursuit of the ideal realm of life, which is also to pursue the realm of the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Confucius is concerned about the whole world and it doesn’t care about the personal gains. They do things although they know it is possible to achieve it. It regards facing to face reality as the highest pursuit of life.
Taoism is not do things with human deliberately. It pursue the nature and perfection and it assert to return to the nature by a way of “body tao”. It assert people
should be unselfish and regard “with nature together” as the highest pursuit of life. Buddhism advocates unselfish, unworldliness, advocated by the good deeds to guide people in their pursuit of \"truth\" Buddha nature. The Confucianism Taoism and Buddhism three pursue of truth, goodness and beauty in their own ways. And they promote traditional Chinese culture to form a distinct characteristics. What’s more, the Confucianism three have attached importance to the relation between life and moral, emphasizes the necessity of self-cultivation. Confucian restrain people's behavior by \"courtesy\". They use \"sincerity\\"heart\\" restraining in privacy \" to regulate people's inner world. The Taoists use empty silence to keep quiet to the development of human nature, advocate to remove the interferences and seek peace of mind. Buddhism required people immediately stop when they have thoughts and don't let it rise, therefore to maintain a peaceful heart. Therefore, paying attention to moral life and paying attention to cultivation of the mind is the key to three achievements of ideal personality
The reason why the three ideas can mix together is
because they have a more consistent view in the understanding of \"heart” . They think that \"heart\" is very important, so the Buddha in common three is about the \"heart\" of the view.
Then let’s talk about the differences of them. As far as I concerned, the differences is on the effects on the spiritual life of Chinese intellectuals.
Confucian thought is essentially a kind of \"into the world\" ideology. “Officialdom is the natural outlet for good scholars.” Learning Confucius is to use. The aim of learning it is to go into the world to bring peace and stability to the country and save the world.
The ideal personality that the Confucian advocated are Saints. Saint means king, is the supreme ruler of the pursuit of the objective of personality and the model character is Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, Zhou. Confucius is the Confucian as the \"uncrowned king\been added to the list of saints. Yin refers to the moral cultivation of higher, is generally the literati and the ordinary people to pursue personal goals.
In a word , Confucianism is the science of man, is
partial to the social attributes of the philosophy of life, \"Saint outside the king\" is the highest realm of Confucianism.
The characteristic of Taoism belief is based on \"Dao\" and \"de\" is the most fundamental beliefs. \"It is only theoretical basis, is to\" quiet for the case, nothing for the body, weak for the use of \"a\" road \origin of the universe and the dominator, everywhere, everything is contained therein.\" it all started, biochemical and everything. Taoist uses natural quiet, little mood and wild stock or floating clouds and free life to go out to the world.
Taoism, is the religion which is content to academic thought of Taoist. Academic thoughts in Taoism cover many generations. It has broad knowledge and it mainly related to the original natural sciences, humanities, physical science etc. The confluence of Taoist academic thought is also the content of Chinese culture of primitive religion, philosophy, science and technology.
The most fundamental theory of Buddhism is “origin empty”. Wisdom is a basic characteristic of
throughout the Buddhist ideology .While the Chinese Buddhist characteristics is in the Zen and the heritage of Chinese culture is in the Zen. A shock refining and shake the compelling history of the Chinese Zen Buddhism, is the essence of a bright moon of the Chinese nation, the wisdom of humanity history, Oriental culture is the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism, is the unity of thinking and being.
To sum up, there are some common points and also differences between the Confucianism Taoism and Buddhism. After development of thousands of years, these three ideas finally become more and more suitable for our Chinese culture. They become one part of our broad and profound rarity of the Chinese civilization. The Inheritance and development of Chinese Confucianism and Buddhism culture keep their original reality, but also change with the times. And what’s the important thing is keep the heart harmonious. Harmonious world begin with the peace of heart. And it is also one of the best ways to make our Chinese culture better and better.
Bibliography Internet
：《禅宗与道家》，复旦大学出版社 王拓：《佛教与中国文化》 李养正：《道教概说》
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