The Comparative Study Of Cosmology Between Buddhism And Taoism

In the cognition history of human being, the exploration of universe even originated before the recorded history. Furthermore, the cosmology is the basement and the core of Buddhist thought and Taoist thought that occupied an important position in the history of Chinese traditional culture. The researches from past scholars were mainly relevant to the origin of the universe, the very essence of the universe and the temporal-spatial relationship. In order to better understand the basic theories of Buddhism and Taoism and guide the contemporary life, on the basis of historical investigation and philosophical analysis, the study compared the similarities and differences of some important theories between Buddhism and Taoism, that are the cosmologic theory, universe ontology and temporal-spatial relationship. On the question of the origin of the universe, different religious forms have different answers. Buddhist proposed the "origin". However, the Taoist philosophy constructed the Road Gas-based cosmogony on one hand, on the other hand it theologically proposed the creationism with the oracle of revelation. Rooted in the origin theory of Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism developed the origin of the "empty" ontological thought that was connected to as well as distinct with "Tao" ontology. And due to the different interpretations of the ontology of the universe, the Buddhism and Taoism had the different attitudes to life. In additon, Chinese traditional cosmological thought involved the discussions about temporal-spatial relationship, by contrasting the similarities and differences of the theories of temporal-spatial concepts as well as temporal-spatial interrelationship between Buddhism and Taoism, it could be concluded these temporal-spatial concepts were mythological and speculative. In summary, besides having the academic value, the comparative study of cosmology between Buddhism and Taoism was important for developing the Chinese traditional philosophical thoughts, forming the scientific world outlook and methodology, establishing the correct outlook on life and constructing the socialist harmonious society.