The integration of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism by the literati in Tang Dynasty

When Buddhism and Taoism became prevailing in China, they attracted many higher rank officials. In Zhou Dynasty, another religion belief, Confucianism joined the previous two. By the time of Tang Dynasty, the three beliefs were integrated and adopted by the literati in their behaviours and acts, which had further influence upon people's thoughts, life and literature works. The emperors of Tang Dynasty drew more importance to Buddhism and brought some of its ideas into their ruling systems and used them as cultivation tools in their ruling. To some extent, the concepts in Buddhism and Taoism were closer to those in Confucianism, thus making them more likely to be accepted by those Confucianism-believing literati. The integration of the three religions made these literati open to more beliefs, ideas, and enriched their literature works in terms of content and artistic styles.