Zhu Xi’s Integration And Critique Of Buddhism

The Zhu Zi Quotations is a compilation of quotations from the conversations between Zhu Xi,the great master of Song and Ming philosophy,and nearly 100 of his disciples,and is an important reference for the study of Zhu Xi’s philosophical thought.It contains not only a profound understanding of the history and thought of Confucianism,but also a large number of references and critiques of Buddhism.Therefore,a study of the Zhu Zi Quotations can provide a focused grasp of Zhu Xi’s understanding,orientation and evaluation of Buddhism.Zhu Xi’s study of Buddhism continued throughout his youth.Although it later spread to Confucianism,the influence of Buddhist philosophy is still faintly visible in the subsequent ideological construction,due to the integration of the three religions in the Song Dynasty and the general entry and exit of Confucianists.These influences are also prominently reflected in the Zhu Zi Quotations.First of all,the quotation of Buddhist texts and allusions is most common when Zhu Xi explains to his disciples the principles of learning hard work,the logic of thinking that is different,and distinguishes the similarities,differences and relationships between Confucian and Buddhist theories.The words like Buddha,Zen,and Shi appear directly or superimposed more than 900 times in the Zhu Zi Quotations,which is enough to show the importance attached to Buddhism.Zhu Xi talked about a wide range of Buddhist texts,including the Forty-two Chapters Sutra,the Leng Yan Sutra,the Yuanjue Sutra,the Vimal Sutra,the Lotus Sutra,the Diamond Sutra,the Heart Sutra,the Huayan Sutra,and the Buddha’s Saying that Parents Are Happy and Difficult to Repay Sutra,and the most cited Buddhist allusions are the Dahui Quotations.In terms of citation methods,there are both copying of the original Buddhist scriptures and comprehensible quotations of Zen words.Secondly,in the absorption and differentiation of Buddhist thought,the content of the judgment of Confucian Buddha is found throughout the text of the Zhu Zi Quotations.Specifically,first,the ontology part is mainly focused on volumes IV to VI.In the discussion of the relationship between the rational and the instrument,Zhu Xi’s idea of a distinction is closely related to the Huayanzong’s exposition of the relationship between the directors,which shows Zhu Xi’s absorption of Buddhism.In talking about fundamental differences,Zhu Xi pointed out that the fundamental difference between Confucian Buddha is to take heavenly reason as reality and reason as emptiness.Second,the distinction between the interpretation of the mind between Confucian and Buddha is mainly concentrated in volume 126,in which Zhu Xi summarizes the difference between Confucianism and Buddhism by using nature as reality and nature as emptiness,emphasizing that Confucian nature theory is divided into the nature of destiny and temperament,and takes the nature of destiny as the foundation,but Buddhism(especially Zen Buddhism)takes role as nature,only focuses on the nature of reality,does not pay attention to ontology,and should be criticized.Third,the "Zhu Zi Quotations" also reflects that Zhu Xi attaches great importance to the difference between Confucianism and Buddhism in the theory of workmanship and often speaks very sharply,mainly focusing on two aspects: on the one hand,when it comes to attaining knowledge and gradually cultivating enlightenment,Zhu Xi directly points out the difference in the purpose of the two,that is,Confucianism is committed to poor reason,and Buddhist epiphany falls into ignorance.On the other hand,Zhu Xi emphasized the difference between the convergence of this mind by Confucianism and the meditation of Zen Buddhism,and he believed that Zen work was just a "law-abiding",and Zhu Xi pointed out that by grasping the fundamental principle of Confucianism in practice,"all reason is true",there will be no confusion between the two efforts.Third,the "Zhu Zi Quotations" also contains some of Zhu Xi’s overall understanding of the relationship between Buddhism and the three religions.Zhu Xi often talked with his students about the history of Buddhism,especially the Zen Buddhism,and criticized the two schools of Buddhism and Taoism from three aspects: the mutual attack,the retreat of learning,and the selfishness of Taoism,reflecting Zhu Xi’s grasp of the three schools of learning and the maintenance of Confucian subjectivity.