Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism were collectively referred to as "three religions" sinceNorthern Zhou DynastyPeriod, about the middle of the 6th century,Chinese cultureIt gradually formed the tripartite confrontation of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.afterSui and Tang DynastiesThree teachings and integration during the period,Confluence of three religionsstayNorthern Song DynastyIt has roughly formed, and has become the mainstream of social thought since the Ming Dynasty.confucianOf course, its main function is to "govern the world", which is to govern the countryideology, established ChinaTraditional societyOfEtiquette normsAndRules and regulations。The main function of Taoism is to "govern the body". The Chinese people have always wanted to live an immortal life.The main function of Buddhism is to "govern the mind". It has obvious advantages in the cultivation of mind to eliminate troubles.There are rich ideological resources of caring cultivation, especially Zen's "insight", Huayan's "director free", Tiantai's“Stop Watching Double Cultivation”Wait, it became the Song DynastyConfucianismAn important source of development.Buddhism and Taoism, therefore, cooperate with the practice of Confucian ethics.Buddhism, in particular, has also undertaken many practical functions of charity and relief in civil society.Li Yuan, the Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, issued an imperial edict, saying that "although the three religions are different, the good will go to the same spot".Song XiaozongHe wrote "On the Original Way", advocating "cultivating the heart with Buddhism, governing the body with the old, and governing the world with Confucianism." Emperor Taizu of the Ming DynastyZhu YuanzhangIn the "Three Religions", it is said that "in the three religionsConfuciusThe founder of TaoismYao and Shun, lead the three kings, delete the book of songs, and live forever;The ghost of the Buddha Immortal, who helps Wang Gang secretly, will benefit the world forever, but it is always luckyAlthough the establishment of three religions is different from each other in terms of prosperity and frugality, it is reasonable for them to give alms.However, among the fools in this world and the three religions in this world, there are some indispensable ones. "[2]
Scholars and officials received a good set of traditional Confucian education when they were young, and they should be the defenders of Confucianism.However, the scholar bureaucrats in the Ming Dynasty, whether cabinet ministers or petty officials in prefectures and counties, whether in office or in rural areas, were all advocates of Buddhism and Taoism, and even becamebuddhist temple "Dharma Protector" of.The prevailing custom at that time was the scholarsWithIt is elegant for people of Buddhism and Taoism to meet each other.Therefore, the contribution to Buddhism is just like that of Ming peopleQu RujiAs he said: "Scholars and officials in recent times all recite the DharmaConfuciusThey are also.Those who hope to create a monk's house and a monk's field in the city to attract people to poke grass to look at the wind and the dragons, but recite Confucius' wisdom, then Confucianism has shelter and interpretation, and they don't believe it! "Jiang De and Wang Jing, a native of the Ming Dynasty, also said that the literati and officials of the late Ming Dynasty were "unrestrained in the Shurangama, satirizing the Fahua, and converting to the Pure Land".In addition,Neo Confucianism in the Song and Ming DynastiesAbsorbing a lot of Buddhist thoughts, Buddhism and Taoism declined gradually.Buddhism came into being much earlier than Taoism. When it was introduced into China, Buddhism had already developed quite completely. Therefore, after Taoism came into being, it learned from Buddhism in many aspects.For example, in the process of creating early Taoist scriptures, there were many places to imitate or even follow Buddhist scriptures;Taoist temple facilities, organizational formsreligious ritesThere are also some references from Buddhism.Another example is that under the influence of the idea of "Invisible Avenue", early Taoism was opposed toidolatryTherefore, Buddhism is called "Elephant Religion".However, the form of "setting up an image to establish a religion" of Taoism in later generations is similar to that of Buddhism, which is actually influenced by Buddhism.Quanzhen Taoism advocatesThree religions in one, with《The Book of Filial Piety》Heart Sutra《The Scripture of Ethics》It is the core classic.[3]
As early as the early Ming Dynasty, there were some monks who were good at ci and had close contacts with scholars, but they were only examples.After the middle period, and even in the Ming Dynasty, due to the convergence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, it was an indisputable fact that scholars, monks and Taoism intersected.This ethos is mainly reflected in the following two aspects: First, monks and Taoists do not abide by the rules and regulations, and do not accept the precepts in monks' temples and Taoist temples, but wander around,YoufangMonk TaoistIt is everywhere, especially in Beijing.As the Ming people said, "The capital is a monk and the sea is also a sea. There are three dwellings in the famous Blue Essence Temple, and there are three dwellings in the temple. There are three dwellings on ten sides of the temple because of the prosperity of incense and the lack of support. Therefore, the ten sides of the temple converge on each other." The second is that the scholar officials and teachers work in Shamen,Han nationalityMiddle school children even worship eminent monks as teachers.asZhang LuxiangIt reveals that "in modern times, scholars and officials have many teachers working in Shamen, which is very important in the south of the Yangtze River." This ethos is just a comprehensive reflection of the confluence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and its concrete manifestation is that scholars and monks and Taoists intersect, and it is not surprising, or even elegant.
Three churches
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buddhism
Confucius, Sakyamuni, Laotse and other thingsThree churches, which had been seen in the Yuan Dynasty at the latest.In the Ming Dynasty, it became a common practice.As a rule, Confucius worshiped in learning,Forssman Sacrifice to the temple,LaoshiSacrifice to the Taoist Temple, which was originally customized and not mixed with each other.However, in the Ming Dynasty, it was popular to worship Confucius, Buddhism and Laoshi together.In view of this, the court had to order a ban.In the third year of Yongle's reign in the Ming Dynasty (1405), the imperial court issued a ban on "offering sacrifices to Confucius in the Old Temple of Buddhism".howeverConfluence of three religionsAfter all, it is the general trend. Although the imperial court has repeatedly applied for the ban, the ban is often empty.In the Ming Dynasty, most people took Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism as one picture, or made statues in temples.Buddhism is in the middle and Taoism is in the middle.There are even Taoist crowns, Confucian shoes and Buddhist cassocksFu Dushi。This kind of behavior is not only prevalent in Taoism and Buddhism, but also scrupulously observed by some Confucian scholars.For example, Chen Baiwo, "build three churches and worship Confucius and Ershi".There is also a Sanjiao Pavilion in Pennsylvania, which was built by Yang Fengyun. "The pavilion has three images of Confucius, Sakyamuni and Laozi".
Once the sages of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism get together in one hall, one pavilion or even one picture, the boundaries between the three religions are confusedAncestral TempleThis is particularly evident in.
This can be divided into the following three situations:
First, the temples of Confucian people are managed by monks and Taoists.For example, Xuzhou offered sacrifices to the Han EmperorLiu BangTheir incense sticks are managed by monks.
Second, it was originally a Taoist systemshrine However, there are also monks and abbots.asTaicangLiujiaheTianfei Palace，YongleAt the beginning of its construction, it was "worshipped by monks".
ThirdconfucianThe sacrificial figures of are attached to the Taoist temple.For example, the Guangling King's Temple in Suzhou was set up in the city to worship Qian Yuan and his son Wenju, the military envoy of WuyueSanmao Temple。
buddhism
Of course, the above is the same as that at that timethe thought circleThe trend of confluence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism is consistent, but it is also related to the ambiguity and even oversight of the court's ritual and etiquette.The Ming EmpireConfucianismThere is no doubt about the establishment of the country.However, every time in the empireGrand MeetingAt that time, the officials were not in the Confucius Temple of the Imperial College, but in Buddhist temples or Taoist temples, first in the Qingshou TempleLingji Palace, later it will be set at Chaotian Palace.As the court did, local officials had to act according to the rules, and there was no need to investigate whether it was in line with the Confucian doctrine.Such as HangzhouQiantang CountyEvery year, they make cattle to welcome spring at Chongfu Temple of Ganoderma lucidum.This is the best example.
