A Reinterpretation of The Doctrine of the Mean from 
the Perspective of Buddhist-Confucian Syncretism in the 
Song Dynasty: Taking Zhiyuan as a Precedent

Shasha Luo

doi:10.70711/rcha.v3i6.7598

A Reinterpretation of The Doctrine of the Mean from the Perspective of Buddhist-Confucian Syncretism in the Song Dynasty: Taking Zhiyuan as a Precedent

Shasha Luo

Abstract

By the Song Dynasty, with the wide spread of Buddhism, Confucianism was influenced by the critical thinking of Buddhism, leading to a trend of reinterpreting classical texts. The Doctrine of the Mean, with its profound critical thinking and focus on mind-nature, was
highly recommended by Confucian scholars and could be regarded as the key to mind transmission in this academic communication of reinterpretation. In the meanwhile, Buddhist scholars also began re-examining The Doctrine of the Mean. Among them, Gushan Zhiyuan of the
Tiantai School could be regarded as the first Buddhist interpreter. His Buddhist interpretation has three unique aspects. That is, the ontological
interpretation of the Mean, the cognitive path of body and mind, and the advancement of its practical methodology. Zhiyuans Buddhist interpretation not only promotes the integration of Buddhism and Confucianism in both theoretical and practical fields but also provides a balance
between self-cultivation and governing the world. Moreover, his Buddhist interpretation somewhat facilitates the establishment of an ontological theoretical system centered on mind and nature in Neo-Confucianism during the Song and Ming dynasties, contributing significantly to the
evolution of Buddhist-Confucian syncretism.

Keywords

The Doctrine of the Mean; Mind-nature; Gushan Zhiyuan; Buddhist-Confucian syncretism

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.70711/rcha.v3i6.7598

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