Pursuit of Transcendence and Integration of Life--Confucianism, Taoism, and Zen with Leisure: Confucianism, Taoism, and Zen with Leisure

Author: Hu Weixi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features:
This book explores the leisure thought resources of Confucianism, Taoism, and Chan Buddhism in ancient China, delving into ancient Chinese philosophy and its practical methods. It elaborates on and discusses the leisure theories of Confucianism, Taoism, and Chan Buddhism, respectively, and conducts a comparative study. In ancient China, whether Confucianism, Taoism, or Buddhism, there was a tradition that leisure was both a way of life and a state of life. Owning leisure was the oldest dream of humankind. However, what exactly is leisure? This is not an easy question to answer. In ancient China, whether Confucianism, Taoism, or Buddhism, there was a tradition that leisure was both a way of life and a state of life.
Confucian leisure theory is based on the ideological premise that individuals cannot live apart from society and that individuals and society can coexist harmoniously. Therefore, Confucian leisure theory is primarily a theory of social harmonious development. Taoism views leisure as a completely individual behavior of self-adaptation, emphasizing the individuality of leisure and the unique perceptual nature of life. Taoist leisure theory, which focuses on the uniqueness of individual life, is grounded in a social conflict theory. Thus, Taoist leisure theory is essentially a social critique theory.
Chan Buddhism's leisure theory is rooted in perspectivism. It teaches us to transform every moment into eternity, to fully enjoy the beauty of life, and to strive for enlightenment as much as possible. For Chan Buddhism, life is inherently neither joyful nor sorrowful, nor is there beauty or ugliness—it is merely the product of attachment. What we need is an unadorned, uncarved life. Therefore, an uncarved life is a beautiful life, and an uncarved life is the essence of life.