Master Zhu-hong's(祩宏) Viewpoint on the Relationship of Confucianism and Buddhism

Against the background of the merging of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism in the late Ming Dynasty,this article discusses Master Zhuhong's unique viewpoint on the relationship of Confucianism and Buddhism. First,by stressing the essence of Confucianism and Buddhism,Master Zhuhong advocated integration of the two. Second,to avert confusion in the merging process,he demarcated the boundary between them in concepts and ways of argumentation. Finally,to counteract radical thoughts advocated by Wang Yangming,he maintained the position of giving up the evil and returning to the good. The view of Master Zhuhong reflects the characteristic of merging Confucianism into Buddhism. The merge of Confucianism with Buddhism advocated by Master Zhuhong is a natural choice in the late Ming Dynasty,which breaks new ground for the development of Buddhism.