The Song Dynasty, Buddhism, Confucianism, Buddhism And Consistent Thinking

The relationship between Buddhism and Confucianism is always a hot research subject; especially the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism in Song Dynasty, the study on that is so complicated and confusing that scholars have spent lots of energy and effort, and achieved fruitful results. However, since the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism in Song Dynasty is very complicated, the study is still weak. For example, what are the connotation and characteristic of the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism advanced by Buddhist groups in Song Dynasty when the Confucians brought against Buddhism? What are the differences between Integration of Confucianism and Buddhism in Song Dynasty and previous collusion or unity? What are the inherent links between integration of Confucianism and Buddhism in Song Dynasty and the development of Buddhist theory? All of them need to be further explored. To correctly understand the development trend of Confucianism and Buddhism in Song Dynasty, we must examine their relations from an all-around point of view and from and think the issue in someone else's perspective. Based on the development of Buddhism teachings, and combined with social environment of the Song Dynasty, the study unscrambles the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism advanced by Buddhist scholars in Song Dynasty to argue against Confucians. The paper interprets the connotation and characteristic of the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism in Song Dynasty, reviews the struggle and integration between Confucianism and Buddhism, clarifies development trend of Buddhism in Song Dynasty, and assesses its status in history of thoughts of Song Dynasty from relation between the Truth and the Provisional World, essence, engaged trend of Buddhism in Song Dynasty, and the Confucian development and Confucians' works against Buddhism in song Dynasty.The paper is consisted of five chapters. The author introduces the research achievement and investigative situation of Integration of Confucianism and Buddhism, his own writing ideas in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 examines the external environment of Buddhism and Confucianism in Song Dynasty and development trends of thoughts. Chapter 3 clarifies the relation between integration and struggle of Confucianism and Buddhism, and focus on the connotation and characteristic of the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism. Chapter 4, retroacts the origin of the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism, and states the causes for the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism. Chapter V, influence of the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism.The paper holds the opinion that the thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism in Song Dynasty, with the characteristic of engaged trend of Buddhism, is an inevitable result of the development of Buddhist teachings. This obvious characteristic is not because of the weakness of Buddhism in Song Dynasty, as the Subordinate culture, "dependent" or "compromise" the main culture. The paper proves that in Song Dynasty, the Buddhism is powerful; to some extend as prosperous as in Tang Dynasty, through the rulers' policies, attitudes, the Buddhist classics, the number of Buddhists, etc. Meanwhile, the paper points out that improper definition of the relation between Confucianism and Buddhism will prevent the true understanding of Buddhism. The thoughts of integration of Confucianism and Buddhism advanced by Buddhist groups in Song Dynasty when the Confucians brought against Buddhism, is on the basis of the independence of Confucianism and Buddhism.