Differences Between Liu Zongyuan’s Poems And Proses Under Buddhist Thought

Liu Zongyuan was born in a typical Confucian family and grew up in the mid-Tang Dynasty when the three religions were harmonized.In his political career,there has been smooth political highlights,as well as a long darkness that will never be reused.The bumpy career after a brief glorious career was undoubtedly a huge blow to Liu Zongyuan,but this nothingness also made Liu Zongyuan’s literary creation.The Tang Dynasty was the peak stage of the development of Buddhism in China.Not only did it have the direct support of several emperors,many dignitaries also believed in Buddhism as a fashion;in addition,there were a large number of eminent monks in the Tang Dynasty,and they were actively engaged in various sutra translation and evangelism activities to make ordinary people have the opportunity to get in touch with Buddhism.Under this general environment,the literati left more or less the shadow of Buddhism in their works,and there are many converts to Buddhism.Liu Zongyuan worshipped Buddhism,and both scholars of the dynasty and later generations have this consensus.There are many reasons why Liu Zongyuan worshipped Buddhism.With the development of Buddhism in full swing,the misery and darkness of the real world,and the frustration and loneliness of life,Liu Zongyuan desperately needs a way to resolve depression.How Liu Zongyuan embarked on the path of Buddhism,and how he looked at the problem from the perspective of Buddhism,and how this affects his literary creation,is the focus of this article.When he was demoted to Yongzhou,Liu Zongyuan’s first place to rest was a Buddhist temple.Accompanying the ancient Buddha with a blue lantern at night,and discussing the Tao with monks during the day,Liu Zongyuan not only has the realistic conditions to become Buddha,but is also addicted to Buddhism in his heart.Liu Zongyuan’s poems mentioned many eminent monks of the Tang Dynasty and expressed his admiration.In the constant communication with the monks,Liu Zongyuan’s ambition to believe in Buddhism gradually increased.Liu Zongyuan read Buddhist classics,comprehended Buddhist teachings,and subtly integrated them into the traditional Confucian and Taoist cultures that he accepted,bringing his thoughts and literary qualities to a new level.Liu Zongyuan acquired a high level of Buddhist cultivation through careful study of Buddhism.This kind of influence can hardly not enter Liu Zongyuan’s works.His poems and essays are full of Buddhism.Communicating with monks is one of the most important source of his creation,and the Buddhist principles he has learned become the guide of creation.The deep Zen is the way Liu Zongyuan observes the world.Buddhism is where Liu Zongyuan occasionally hides in order to relieve the distress in his heart,and Buddhism is also put on practical functions by Liu Zongyuan in political affairs.In addition,Liu Zongyuan’s works also contain exposed Buddhist texts,allusions,and images,including the frequently appearing Buddhist terms such as Nirvana,concluding habit,and wit,or figures of good or evil,and bizarre animal allegories,all of which are the content of his creation..Whether it’s the elaboration of Buddhist teachings,the praise of Buddhist monks,or the expression of personal feelings through the Buddha,they are not flyers made by Liu Zongyuan to promote Buddhist scriptures.Liu Zongyuan’s feelings for Buddhism are not limited to pure worship and belief.It is a way to record the author’s life experience and emotional expression,and even the expression of personal practical ideas.In Liu Zongyuan’s poems and essays,there are leaks of Buddhist meaning,and there are similarities and slight differences between them.Whether in terms of content or emotion,there are certain differences.This is the result of Liu Zongyuan’s adaptive selection based on personal emotions and text characteristics.Liu Zongyuan’s attitude towards Buddhism is actually more complicated.He is familiar with Buddhist principles and places part of his personal feelings on it.In Liu Zongyuan’s bleak life of relegation,Buddhism provided his soul with a temporary habitat.However,he is not limited to the thoughts of Buddhism and Zen,and he still maintains a clear understanding of the real world and desires to join the world.This is reflected in the twists and turns in Liu Zongyuan’s works.