three bridges

Confucianism in Greater China[2] , buddhism[3] , a term that refers to all three philosophies or religions of Taoism . It is also called Confucian Buddhism or Confucianism and Buddhism.

The Three Religions are not simply a general term, but also have the meaning of the core worldview of Chinese thought. It also exerted a strong influence in Korea and Vietnam , which share the same Chinese character culture , and served as the background for many modern ethnic religions in Korea that were founded during the Korean Empire .[4]

The concept of ‘Three Religions’ was first used during the Northern and Southern Dynasties in China. Indian Buddhism already had a strong tendency to gain concentration and insight through meditation, samadhi, and yoga , and use them in practice and refine its doctrines. Later, as it went on to Vajrayana Tantra, this tendency grew even more, and it also used contemplative training on energy and energy and training reminiscent of inner meditation.[5] For this reason, the Chinese during the Northern and Southern Dynasties often regarded shramanas and monks as beings no different from sages, and this can be seen in contemporary historical records that left behind rumors and actual observations of the various miracles they showed. Western monks often read and quoted Confucian and Taoist scriptures to spread Buddhism to China, and this also influenced the formation of formal Buddhism.

Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty , who had abolished Buddhism, had already gathered scholars , Taoist monks , and monks to hold several debates to establish a system of the three teachings and discuss the superiority of each other's teachings. This controversy over the three religions continued in later dynasties, and as a result, there was a tendency for each religion to be influenced by the other. In Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism with strengthened metaphysical elements appeared, and in Chinese Buddhism, <Parent Eunjung Sutra> appeared.[6] and <Clean Dharma Sutra>[7] part of the stomach[8] , Taoist theory of Lao-tzu transformation[9] And various mental training methods emerged.

During the Northern Song and Southern Song Dynasties , when the three schools of Buddhism were established and enjoyed their heyday, noblemen who studied Confucian scriptures often practiced Zen meditation such as Mukjo Zen or Ganhwa Zen.[10] The noblemen who wanted to directly experience and internalize the 'benevolence', 'righteousness', and 'hoyeonjigi' taught in Confucianism hoped that Zen Buddhism , which emphasized sex, would provide the answer and tried to learn it. Zhu Xi, who compiled Neo-Confucianism , was also absorbed in Zen meditation in his youth. However, when Zhu Xi met his teacher Lee Dong, he came to criticize Zen Buddhism and systematized the egoism that divides the mind into reason and energy rather than just nature. Instead, Zhu Xi proposed as an alternative to Zen meditation two methods: Jugyeong Hamyang, which deeply observes the mind and observes the quiet state of mind before the joys, sorrows, and sorrows express themselves (mibal, 未發), and Gyeokmulchiji, which explores the logic and function of joys, sorrows, and sorrows in a state that has already occurred and rises above consciousness, as alternatives to Zen meditation.[11]

Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism all have different ways of thinking, but they also have the idea that “ the destination is the same . ” This is because they all have something in common in terms of self-development and achieving an ideal society through cultivation of mind and body. In addition, from a practical perspective, such as social participation, they also have a common denominator in that they contribute to the happiness of the world .[12]

A painting that well represents these three ideas is the picture of three old men tasting vinegar . In the painting, the figure symbolizing Confucianism is said to feel a sour taste from vinegar because he sees life as suffering, the figure symbolizing Buddhism feels bitterness from vinegar because he sees life as suffering, and the figure symbolizing Taoism feels sweetness from vinegar because he sees life as inaction.

In Vietnam , Tam Giáo, which has the same etymology as the Three Religions, refers to the everyday, loose form of tradition that the Vietnamese people believe in. Due to the influence of communism, there are many atheistic people in Vietnam, but it feels more like a custom than a particular religion.

In Taiwan , there are many temples that enshrine various deities, which are a mixture of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Buddhism. It is also common to pray here.

In Journey to the West , there are two scenes in which Son Wukong admonishes the king who was possessed by a monster, saying, “Be equally faithful to the three religions, respect both Taoists and monks, and raise many talented people.”

Among many religions, Taoist religions are most oriented toward the Three Doctrines. For example, Jeon Jeon- do argued for the unity of the three doctrines of Confucianism and Buddhism, and[13] , Heart Sutra , Tao Te Ching was considered as an essential scripture, and the Jeungsan Dharma Religion , which arose in the 20th century, is doctrinally oriented toward the theory of the three doctrines of the unity of Confucianism , Buddhism, and Zen, with the principles of maintaining and bebeomjeol, non-geogeojiche, and harmony between good and wise.

This perspective from the Greater China region began to gradually influence Korea during the Three Kingdoms period . However, the Samgyo worldview was fatal to the Korean people 's unique shamanic worldview. This is because there was no place for shamanism in the keywords of Confucianism and Buddhism. Before the introduction of the Three Religions, shamanism was developing to maturity through the exchange of influence with Buddhism, which came first.[14] However, with the introduction of the three religions, the very existence of shamanism began to be denied.

Until the Three Kingdoms period, there were attempts by shamanism to assimilate or absorb the ideas of the Three Religions. For example, Choi Chi-won, who studied abroad in the Tang Dynasty, argued in the preface to Nanrangbi that there were already wonderful ways in the country and that they included Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and called them Pungryu. Although Confucianism, Buddhism, and Buddhism in the Greater China region were learned through abundant quotations about each of the three religions, it is clear that attempts were made to interpret them independently.

However, later in the Joseon Dynasty, the Palgwanhoe of the Silla and Goryeo Dynasties were described as a fusion of Buddhism and Taoism, and in this process, the existence of shamanism was reduced.

In particular, unlike Confucianism and Buddhism, which had clear differences, Taoism, which had a common element called shamanism, exerted the greatest influence on shamanism . Because Taoism did not have a significant religious rise in Korea,[15] This phenomenon is characterized by the fact that it was mainly led by Confucian noblemen. Even though there were clear cultural differences, the nobles attempted to reinterpret shamanism according to the standards of the three religions, such as replacing shamanism with Taoism or distorting it as a part of Taoism . Regardless of whether there was an intention to downgrade shamanism or whether it was due to ignorance, a series of actions based on the Mohwa ideology also influenced the acceptance of Taoist deities such as the Jade Emperor into shamanism .

This is a popular keyword in many new religions . This is because if you use the three religions, you can evangelize believers that suit your tastes . It is also a favorite topic of fortune tellers and religious figures who are immersed in the Greater China region, such as Confucian medicine , life and immortality, Heo Gyeong-yeong , and Cheon Gong (Taoist) .