Description
Book SynopsisThis book investigates how Buddhism gradually integrated itself into the Chinese culture by taking filial piety as a case study because it is an important moral teaching in Confucianism and it has shaped nearly every aspect of Chinese social life. The Chinese criticized Buddhism mainly on ethical grounds as Buddhist clergies left their parents' homes, did not marry, and were without offspringactions which were completely contrary to the Confucian concept and practice of filial piety that emphasizes family life. Chinese Buddhists responded to these criticisms in six different ways while accepting good teachings from the Chinese philosophy. They also argued and even refuted some emotional charges such as rejecting everything non-Chinese. The elite responded in theoretical argumentation by (1) translations of and references to Buddhist scriptures that taught filial behavior, (2) writing scholarly refutations of the charges of unfilial practices, such as Qisong's Xiaolun (Treatis
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments – Abbreviations – List of Tables – Foreword by Professor Timothy H. Barrett – Introduction – Filial Piety in Early Buddhism – Early Buddhist and Confucian Concepts of Filial Piety: A Comparative Study – The Spread of the Buddhist Teaching of Filial Piety during the Six Dynasties: A Study Based on the Shanzi Jing and the Yulanpen Jing – Buddhist Responses to Confucian and Daoist Criticisms of Filial Piety – "Filial Piety are the Precepts": Chinese Buddhist Reinterpretation of the Precepts – A Study of the Apocryphal Text: Fumu Enzhong Jing – A Study of Repaying the Four Kinds of Compassion – Qisong’s Xiaolun (Treatise on Filial Piety): A Study and Critical Translation – Conclusion – Bibliography – Index.
