A Study Of Song And Yuan Period Religious Integration And The Development Of Taoism

In the history of China, Confucianism, the most honored by the emperor "Han Wu Di" , had always been the dominating ideology in Chinese feudalistic society. Along with the introduction to Buddhism in Two Han period and the appearance of Taoism, the relation of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism was at all the times in the state of competition exclusion, as well as absorbing integration. From Wei, Jin, Nan, Bei period via Sui, Tang, Wu Dai period to Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing period, the relation of the three religions changed from the accordance via the tripartite confrontation to the harmony. This change was an evolvement from form to character. In the background of the religious integration, Taoism in Song, Yuan period absorbed a mass of thinking of Confucianism and Buddhism to accomplish the transformation from the outer cinnabar to the inner cinnabar, as well as mature the inner cinnabar. In order to embedded comprehend the relation of the three religions in Song, Yuan period, and the development of Taoism which influenced by their relation, this essay as follow retrospect the relation of the three religions since Wei, Jin, Nan, Bei period, and thus probed into the background of the three religions' relation, in terms of their forms in Song, Yuan period, the characteristics of the relation, the cognition and proposition of representative figures of Taoism in Song, Yuan period, the influence on development of Taoism in this period and later ages with the relations.Wei, Jin, Nan, Bei period was the first period that Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism came into being conflict and harmony in the history of China. In this period, the theory "consistency of three religions" primarily emphasized that the three religions had consistently civilized social educational function. Although the three religions did not deeply integrate in theory, the cognition that the three religions could traced back to the same headstream, provided a good condition for the absorbing religious integration of later ages in theory. The idealistic religious integration in Sui, Tang period had further developed, based on the thinking of "consistency of three religions" in Wei, Jin, Nan, Bei period. It was not focused only on the consistency of the three religions on social function, but also pushed their integration in theory. The development was from tending to emphasize the political function to achieve mastery through a comprehensive study in theory. When the relation of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism developed in Song, Yuan period, opportunities and conditions for further religious integration were provided with. In terms of the intrinsic factors of the three religions' development, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism much more preferred to learn from each other, with the long-term reciprocity among them. Thus, they had already tended to find the turning point of religious integration with deeply thinking of cosmic ontology and disposition theory.Song dynasty was a period that Taoism developed at the height of power and splendor. In this period, Taoism was gradually consummated and matured both in the aspects of dogmata and ideological system. Taoism system info, which took the inner cinnabar as primary content and trait, was founded. This was a new Taoism system info based on absorbing Confucianism and Buddhism, especially buddhistic philosophic theory. Taoism in Yuan dynasty further developed in the aspect of the inner cinnabar. Many great masters of Taoism appeared in Song, Yuan period, including Chen Tuan who was the first to initiate religious integration, Zhang Bo Ri who matured the Taoism for the inner cinnabar, Bai Yu Chan who founded Southern Sect, Wang Chong Yang who belonged to Quan Zhen Taoist, Li Dao Chun who was a great master in both Southern and Northern Sects and wise to all-around Taoism, as well as the representative figure of religious integration in early Yuan Dynasty etc. These masters had distinct thinking for religious integration. It was the reflection of this period's trend of thoughts, and specially the demand of Taoism's development. With the analysis of Taoist master's thoughts for religious integration, we would be aware of the significant ideological factors of Taoism's development in Song, Yuan period, and reveal the trait that Taoism in Song, Yuan period integrated with Confucianism and Buddhism, especially primarily absorbed Buddhism.The deeply integration of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism in Song, Yuan period had a significant influence on the development of Taoism. No matter New Taoism in Song Jin period, or Zheng Yi School based on Tian Shi School gave prominence to absorbing Confucianism and Buddhism in terms of religious integration. Each Sect of Taoism absorbed Confucianism and Buddhism differently, such as Tai Yi School, Zhen Da School, Jing Ming School, which obviously absorbed more Confucianism than Buddhism and was high-colored by Confucianism; meanwhile Quan zhen School absorbed more Buddhism and Chan School, which was high-colored by Chan School. However, all Sects of Taoism took religious integration as their foundation of development. With the effect of Confucianism, they continuously directed to the study of ethic and common-customs. With the effect of Buddhism, Taoism was significantly enhanced in terms of philosophy.