| Zhang Jiucheng(1092-1159)was a famous politician in early Southern Song dynasty.As a Confucian,he studied under Yang Shi,and was a famous Confucian scholar as well as a prolific writer,whose commentaries on Confucian doctrines were prevalent in that time.As a Buddhist,on the other hand,succeeded the teachings of Dahui Zonggao,the dominant Chan master in Song dynasty,he was generally recognized a lay disciple who has achieved enlightenment.For this reason,however,his commentaries on Confucian doctrines has been regarded as contaminated ones by many other Confucians.Zhu Xi,particularly,criticized his commentaries for being“external Confucian but internal Buddhist”,that would have adulterated the orthodox Confucian.As Cheng-Zhu school becomes the dominating teaching,Zhang Jiucheng’s position has been marginalized in the Confucian history,and many of his works are not extant.In recent thirty years,studies on Zhang Jiucheng rebounded.Most of the studies focus on the analyses of his Confucian thoughts and the re-examination of his position and influence in the Song Confucianism.Those studies,restrained in the thinking of the opposition of Confucianism and Buddhism,usually try to place Zhang Jiucheng’s thought to the side of Confucianism,or to the side of Buddhism.However,few studies have dealt with the process of development of Zhang Jiucheng’s thought,nor his understanding of Buddhism.Therefore,Zhang Jiucheng’s thought is still not clear;that prevents our overall comprehension to his thought and a more appropriate approach.Based on this situation,this article will investigate the process of development of Zhang Jiucheng’s thought and his understanding of Buddhism,making an attempt to find a macroscopic,dynamic,thorough,and multi-azimuth approach.Firstly,as the background knowledge of the theme,this article gives an overview of the social and political background,the development of Confucianism at that time,and the general situation of Buddhism,as well as Confucians’ criticism on Buddhism.Secondly,this article gives an overall introduction and analysis of Zhang Jiucheng’s personal life – his studying and political life,his characters and his works.Based on the discussions above,this article moves on to discuss Zhang Jiucheng’s approach to Buddhism – the reason,the process,and the result.Investigations of his articles,letters and historical Buddhist materials show his life can be divided into three periods – the period that being a complete Confucian,the period that externally approached Buddhism but internally still being a Confucian,and the period that comprehends Confucianism and Buddhism thoroughly.Among these three periods,Zhang Jiucheng’s thought in the third one – the period that he “comprehends Confucianism and Buddhism thoroughly” – is still not clear.Therefore,this article focuses on two kinds of important activities in this period of his life – his communications with Buddhists,and his commentaries on Confucian doctrines.Firstly,based on numerous historical materials,this article discusses Zhang Jiucheng’s understanding of Buddhism and his communications with other Buddhists.Through these materials,we can have a clear view of his layman life and the importance of the Buddhism during his later years.Next,by using Zhang Jiucheng’s two works – Commentaries on the Shangshu,and Jueju of Analects of Confucius – as samples,this article examines the contents that merged with Buddhist thoughts in his commentaries on Confucian doctrines,and analyses how those statements represent his thought that comprehend Confucianism and Buddhism thoroughly.To sum up,the article reveals that Zhang Jiucheng was neither “externally Buddhist but internally Confucian”,nor “external Confucian but internal Buddhist”,instead of that,he was a “Confucian and Buddhist”.Therefore,it is more accurate and proper to regard him as a creative thinker who “thoroughly comprehends Confucianism and Buddhism” than defining him into either side – this provides a new vision of studies on Zhang Jiucheng’s thought. |
