Criticism of Social Passivity Among Buddhists and Daoists in the Works of Han Yu (768–824)

The article presents criticism analysis of social passivity among Buddhists and Daoists as presented in the works of Han Yu (768–824), a Confucian scholar of Tang China (618–907). The content of Confucian criticism against adherents of Buddhism and Daoism reflects the complex interactions between these religious traditions in Chinese society and touches upon important aspects of Buddhism transformation in China. This remains relevant for understanding contemporary socio-cultural processes, in particular the phenomenon of engaged Buddhism. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate that Han Yu’s primary criticism of these religions targeted the social passivity of their adherents. The research is based on the analysis of Han Yu’s works as historical sources reflecting the interaction between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism during the Tang period. The works under consideration have not been previously translated into Russian and have not been introduced into scholarly discourse within Russian sinology. The research uses the method of historical-cultural contextual analysis, as well as the biographical method. This article demonstrates that Han Yu’s attitude toward Buddhism and Daoism was not uniformly negative. The analyzed works lack criticism of Buddhist or Daoist doctrines per se. Instead, Han Yu expresses respect for the personal qualities of monks with whom he maintained friendly relations, faulting them solely for their social passivity: a perceived lack of engagement in socially meaningful activities. We draw a conclusion that during Han Yu’s lifetime in Tang society adherence to Daoism and even Buddhism was not regarded by Confucian officialdom as a hindrance to state service, provided that a socially active stance was maintained. The prospects for further research are associated with a deeper exploration of the mutual influences among Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism, both in light of a deeper understanding of historical context surrounding their transformation and in the context of contemporary discussions on the role of religion in society

Criticism · Epistemology · Passivity · Political science · Psychoanalysis · Sociology · Chinese history and philosophy · Educational Reforms and Innovations · Engineering · Law · Medical Research and Treatments · Philosophy · Psychology