天臺宗諦閑法師的儒釋道三教觀初探=A Preliminary Study of Master Dixian (Dixian fashi諦閑法師) of the Tiantai School and his Views on the Three Teachings of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism
Buddhist monastics and lay practitioners in China have, as common practice, been also administering Confucian and Daoist customs, merging and circulating them with Buddhist customs since ancient times. In the closing years of the Qing, under the compelling pressures of movements to establish schools with temple property (miaochan xingxue 廟產興學), the Buddhist world had no choice but to voluntarily establish their own schools, so as to deal with government and intellectuals of that time and reach the goal of preserving monastery property. The creation of modern Chinese Buddhist education exhibited clearly the complex relationship between Buddhism and secular education. Although this vitalized Buddhism at the outset, it was also difficult to abandon the sentiments and practicality of traditional Chinese culture. For example, in 1910, under the direction of Master Dixian, the Monk Normal School (Seng shifan xuexiao僧師範學校) was opened in Nanjing with monk education as its focal point; however, the school under the direction of Master Dixion also displayed Confucian tendencies. Later, Master Dixian initiated the Buddhist education of Guangrong Monastery (Guangrong Si觀宗寺). Besides giving precedence to Tiantai scriptural discourse, studies there also included Confucian works such as the Four Books and others. The Tiantai School Buddhist Studies Institute (Tiantai zong foxue yuan天臺宗佛學院) established by Dixian did not repudiate Confucius texts, but based their inclusion on practical considerations of internal fundamental principles of Buddhism. This paper, within the context and background of the period discussed above, lays out in orderly fushion the recorded sayings and other pieces within the Inherited Collection of the Great Master Dixian (Dixian dashi yiji諦閑大師遺集). This paper examines this eminent monk of the Tiantai School, of such historical prestige and future influence, who, in his capacity as Dharma lineage transmitter, concentrated on both doctrinal principles and cultivation practices. It explores why Dixian was concerned with the thought of Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism and their relationship. He clearly employed such simple means of carrying forward and protecting Buddhist teachings, but also, uphold the traditional value of Confucianism.