Expedient Means and Upāyakauśalya are two concepts that belong to Confucianism and Buddhism respectively. Due to the similarities in the practice of wisdom and the way translations are being disseminated and accepted, it is worthwhile doing further comparative research. Firstly, this paper introduces the basic Chinese meanings of the two concepts from the aspect of source text. Secondly, from the perspectives of Confucianism, to clarify the concept of Expedient Means in the use of Confucius and Mencius’s ideas of expression. Thirdly, through the translation process of Buddhist thoughts, using words such as upāya-kauśalya (skill in means), upāyakauśalya (skillful and expedient means) and so on to express the Buddhist concepts. Moreover, the translation process has influenced the Chinese culture in terms of acceptance of Indian Buddhism. Finally, this paper aims to outline the similarities and differences between the concepts of Expedient Means and Upāyakauśalya. It clarifies that Upāyakauśalya, in the process of translation, has been accepted in Confucian culture, and is an important practice of wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism which is significant in the development of Humanistic Buddhism.
