A Comparative Study On Some Selected Words In Taoist And Pāli Buddhist Scripts

Taoist and Pali Buddhist scripts developed in two cultural backgrounds over a similar period. Yet, no proper comparative study of these scripts has been carried out so far. Words concerning cultural philosophy in these scripts have certain comparable contexts, which have pioneer value to conduct an analytical and comparative study. This thesis consists of nine chapters.Introduction provides a general introduction, describing research methods, the uses and importance of a comparative study of Taoist and Pali Buddhist scripts.The seven chapters describe ancient meanings, extend meanings, comparison of words both Chinese and Pali, and hidden meanings of Chinese words of cultural philosophy comparative to Pali words.The first chapter reveals 5 different meanings of "Tao" which are equivalent to "Magga" as follows: "path" , "on the way" , "way" , "main path" and "doctrine". Remarkable similarities in their meanings are seen and also found that "Tao" is used to mean "seek for" . The second chapter reveals 7 different meanings of "Tian" which are equivalent to "Deva" and other Cognate Words as "god" , "lord" , "respectful address" , "name" , "day time" , "day" and "sky" . It also describes "Tian" ; occasionally meaning "large" , seems a supernatural infiltrating phenomenon which opposes to "Di" . The third chapter reveals 3 different meanings of "Sheng" which are equivalent to "Araha" and "Arahanta" as follows: "listen" , "Confucian or Mohist sage" and "Taoist sage" . Various diversified meanings of "Sheng" is also discussed in this chapter and revealed it's in-depth meaning "acute and cleaver" .The fourth chapter reveals 9 different meanings of "Fa" which are equivalent to "Dhamma" and other Cognate Words as follows : "criminal law" , "abrogate" , "rules" , "standard" , "follow" , "method" , "main path" , "regular pattern" and "etiquettes" . This chapter suggests "Fa" itself means "hold" , with the part of "Qu" in it. The fifth chapter reveals 8 different meanings of "Shan" which are equivalent to "Kusala" and other Cognate Words as follows: "good" , "good deed" , "perfect" , "perfect person" , "good path" , "benefit", "be good at" and "surname". It further reveals different issues between "Shan" and "Kusala", also "lucky" meaning of "Yang" through "Kusa" .The sixth chapter reveals 5 different meanings of "Wu" which are equivalent to "Loka" and "Ullokaka" as follows : "look" , "all nature", "external Things", "man" and "insects/animals". This chapter identifies "Wanwu" and "Loka" as a similar phenomenon in two different cultures.The seventh chapter reveals 6 different meanings of "De" which are equivalent to "guna" as follows: "moral character" , "quality" , "true nature" , "kindness" , "virtue" and "dividing line" . In this chapter it is proven that "walk" is used in an imaginative way to describe human "conduct" both in ancient Chinese and Indian cultures. The eighth chapter reveals some reasons why Taoist and Pali Buddhist Words have ancient meanings, especially great "meaningfulness" of Chinese words. It also describes patterns of corresponding words in Chinese and Pali.