The Study On The Thoughts About Confucianism,Taoism And Buddhism Of Li Zhi

Li zhi has an extremely important position in the history of traditional Chinese thought. His unique ideological character was influenced by Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. The ideological struggle of his through disputed with others and the pursuit of inner feelings played a defining role in shaping his character. For example, before Li zhi’s era, the mainstream of traditional Chinese thought were defined by collectivism. For example, Yang zhu’s "For me" thought, which emphasized on the importance of the individual, was dismissed as "heresy" and thus his writings never had the impact that he would have expected them to have. Li zhi re-emphasized the importance of the individual and thus set off tussles in the intellectual groups. The uniqueness of Li zhi’s advocation is that there were still being debated upon even after his demise and thus had far-reaching impact. From this point, we can conclude that Li zhi didn’t belong to the decadent past but to the new era of the future. Known as an anti-feudal despotism and proponent of ideological emancipation, Li zhi was known as the the great pioneers in the16th century.Confucianism is the mainstream ideology of Chinese academic thought. Traditional Chinese scholars asserted that one should learn Confucianism from childhood. Li zhi was not an exception, his elementary education was made possible by his father’s efforts. When Li zhi was seven years old, his father taught him to read. The Confucius’analects laid the base of his Confucius thoughts. At twelve years old, Li zhi had already studied the’The Book of Changes’,’The Book of Rites’and began to read’Book of History’. In the’Yi Yin Xiao Xu’, Li zhi says:"since childhood, I had read’The Book of Changes’, the complex change of governance (The Book of Rites) and thus came to influence my decision making. At fourteen years of age, I read the complex change of governance book’The Book of Rites’ again and went on to secretly read’ s’book’." We can infer that Li zhi had already become familiar with the classics of Confucius at Juvenile period and thus started his interests in Confucius. However, at a older age, after reading Zhu xi, Li zhi noted that, Zhu xi’s thought could not fit because they felt out of tune with resentment, disgusted with Buddhism and Taoism, combined with a stubborn character, he began to slowly formulate his anti-feudal tradition of Taoism traditional thought. We should be bare in mind that Li zhi was against false Confucianism and hypocrisy. Li zhi praised truth and true Confucianism, and he praised those who fully supported these virtues. Through out his life, Li zhi held the view that a government ought to be benevolent to its people. It can be said that Confucianism thoughts moved along with Li zhi’s virtues. Even though his bald head appeared like that of monks, Li zhi was a Confucius believer to the bone, In the preface of the’first lake’, he says:"The Wu Zi hair, Fuzhuo is drop a Buddhist monk, and real Confucianism also."Taoism views the highest concepts of nature as the Tao, Taoistsbelieve and emphasize that they are inseparable from what they believe in. Understanding and interpreting the Tao constitute a very important part of being a Taoist. The understanding of the Tao is the understanding of the philosophy of nature. Apart from-studying of Confucius thought, Li zhi came to realize that Confucius itself was fundamental to the thought of Confucianism despite borrowing from the Taoist philosophy of respecting nature. Its "innocence" lies in natural advocacy and not artificial, for the text to be issued almost naturally; absorb the Taoism spirit of independent concept and seek independent spirit of independent thinking. Under the Taoist political ideology impact, Li zhi believes that only political inaction is in line with human nature and thus in line with the nature of the Tao. In accordance with political inaction, forgiveness the world should be promoted and the acts of reckless effort to control the world should be discouraged. In view of this, his three years in Yao’an were spent in promoting good governance, clothing the society and offering services to its people. For Li zhi’s Lao zi school, it devoted doing endless and sophisticated research for the poor people for decades. Li zhi advocated for an innovative Taoism, he advocated for a Taoism which would offer solutions to the problem that society faced at any time. His reasonable contemplation of being able to judge right and wrong can be described as refreshing. In Buddhism, Li Zhi used Zen to help people at Yao’an and discussed on Zen in Ji’zu Mountain and even shaved his head in Macheng at last. It can be said that in his later life, he built a close relationship with Buddhism. Li Zhi said:" After the age of50,1felt so weak and decadent that I wanted to die. Because of the urging by friends, I started reading the Buddhist scriptures and I was very fortunate to get insight in the primitive of life and death." During the three years at Yao’an, Li Zhi read so many classics Buddhist scriptures, such as Altar Scripture, Prajna, Heart Sutra, Zhongguan Sutra, Lankavatara Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Diamond Sutra. Vimalakirti Sutra and Aparimitayur Sutra may also be read. We can see that Li Zhi’s awareness of Buddhism and his research had reached a certain highness. He explained in the connotation of innocence "from a Buddhist point of view and believed that everything has its cause and effect and good and evil will always be rewarded. He wrote a Buddhist book Causal Recorded, in addition, Li Zhi was committed to Zen and promoted the equality of all human beings and advocated that there’s no difference for everybody to be Buddha. All of these demonstrate the profound impact of the Buddhist Thought on Li Zhi. Perhaps because he had grasped life and death; perhaps because of his extreme devotion to Buddhism, in the sixteenth year of Wanli,60-year-old Li Zhi decided to shave his head to be a monk in Macheng. He finally demonstrated to the world that he went into Buddhism wholeheartedly with so-called "heretical" behavior.As regards the relationship existing among Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, Li zhi’s view was that they were "three in one". Even though they had minimal differences, Li zhi’s thought understating the three religions the way he did would make them forever connected. He said "Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism needed to be learnt in one’s early life. One must taste them before passing on". Hence, it is said that "he who hears the Tao Xi dies without regret". He who doesn’t pass through the non Wen road can not die,hence he said that "I to the female dead men’". Li zhi thensaid clouds, a straight light towards the ear; worn-outshoes, straight base of the ear not think of victims. The Chizhov Taoist depends on wealth such as sewage and dirty. As the world shackles lest it goes with uninvited men., fecal foul smell and shackles of tiredness are still not harmful. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are the reason we are different when setting off on the Wen road.???" The three religions of Confucius said:the doctrines of Confucius, Buddhism and Taoism assert that their purpose is the same because their ultimate goal is at the beginning. You must be sure to taste the road before you die is their ultimate belief. As regards to wealth, Confucianism detest wealth and fame without implying that they are both harmful, the Taoist see the rich as dirt and smelly while equates the emperor to fame. In short, Taoism deemed wealth as a bad thing. Buddhism takes its view of wealth to another level, they equate it to a tiger falling into a deep pit, fish being snared by an eagle and a person entering hell fire. The aforementioned are the differences found among the three religions. However, there similarities lie in their hope of individuals being born in’the road’, this is an absolute necessity. They all affirm that one must be born in the road in order to be freed from the evils of wealth.In summary, Li zhi’s76years journey of life shows a wide arrange of arguments supporting the belief that Confucius, Taoism and Buddhism are one religion whose sufferings have the same impact. It should be noted that Li zhi’s beliefs had generational background. The papers from "Li zhi’s Life and ideological background of the times",""Ming Dynasty’s three religions of the trends and the impact",Li zhi’s Criticism and Inheritance on Confucianism","Li zhi’s Daoism Criticism and Inheritance","Criticism and Inheritance of Li zhi’s Buddhist Thought","Li zhi’s syncretism", as well as "Childlike Innocence and the inwardness theory:three religions" have analyzed and explored religious thought as regards Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.Li zhi is one of Chinese great enlightening thinkers in the16th century. His sharp pioneering eyes enabled him to be a step ahead in realizing the problems and contradictions of social development and thus enabled himself to approach issues with an admirable sense of intelligence and extraordinary courage. Li zhi seriously reflected on the tradition and culture of China, he explored the true meaning of life. He dedicated himself to rational reconstruction of the moral idealism to empiricism. His posture as an independent thinker enable him to free ride between the three religions ofConfucianism,Taoism,Buddhism.He transformed the earliest thought information and thus adapted to the requirements of the times of creative played by authoring "Childlike Innocence","school the main bully, aims to save" for the purpose of the new system of thought.Li zhi’s thoughts regarding Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism provides a firm foundation of reflection for the modern times, traditional Chinese belief of allowing co-existence amongst people believing in the three different religions provides a very solid base upon which the modern world can learn from and thus serve as a referencing point:being an imported religion, Buddhism managed to find its way amongst the traditional Chinese religions like Confucianism and Taoism. This shows how unique the Chinese culture is as regards its view of religion. It also affirms that different religions can still co-exist in any part of the world so long as respect is accorded to the believer’s culture through mutual understanding and reserving our differences in civilized manner. Li zhi’s liberal ideas do not only make him the banner of his late Ming government and early sole ideological giant of his generation, they also served as a stepping stone for the ideological movement of the late Qing dynasty. He advocated for the anti-dogmatic, anti-superstition skepticism, the critical spirit, the spirit of freedom and correct social understanding of traditional Chinese society and culture whichstill has important inspiration and reference inexploring of the road of modern rational reconstruction...