Beyond Life and Death – Wisdom on Life and Death in Traditional Chinese Culture

Author: Chen Guozhan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: This book is a systematic introduction and study of the wisdom about life and death in traditional Chinese culture. It systematically explores and organizes the life and death theories of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Daoism. When it comes to the issue of life and death, it can be explained and resolved from a scientific perspective, or from a philosophical and religious perspective. In science, life and death are seen as objective facts and objects. It is an objective law that humans must be born and must die, and it is unchangeable and untranscendable. No matter how cruel or merciless death may be, people must face and endure it. Beyond that, no one can do anything. In philosophy and religion, life and death are seen as concepts, attitudes, and states of being. The way people view life and death, the attitude they adopt towards life and death, and the state of being they experience in life and death will determine how life and death manifest. Therefore, in philosophy and religion, life and death can be transcended. Of course, this is only a spiritual transcendence, not a factual one. Nevertheless, it is sufficient to provide peace and solace to people's lives and souls. The backbone of traditional Chinese culture is Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Daoism. Essentially, they are all philosophies and religions of life. Confucianism and Taoism are philosophies that primarily discuss how people should understand and settle life. Buddhism and Daoism are religions that primarily discuss how people should understand and deal with death. These four schools are complementary yet contrasting, collectively creating the wisdom of life and death for the Chinese people. They not only provide significant and beneficial insights for us Chinese but also continue to do so for all of humanity.