The Mentality of Literati and Literary Creation in the Context of the Convergence of the Three Religions in the Song Dynasty

Xu  Wang

doi:10.54691/21k66w68

Authors

Xu Wang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/21k66w68

Keywords:

The integration of the Three Religions in the Song Dynasty, literati's mindset, literary creation, Neo-Confucianism, the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Abstract

The Song Dynasty marked a pivotal moment in the ideological and cultural convergence of the three religions. While the three religions existed independently during the Tang Dynasty, they not only merged superficially during the Song Dynasty but also became deeply integrated. Emperor Taizu of Song promoted Confucianism and supported Buddhism, while Emperor Zhenzong of Song honored Taoism. This relaxed support provided space for interaction among the three religions. The literati, intent on integrating culture, incorporated Neo-Confucianism into Buddhism and Taoism, furthering the convergence. This ideological framework transformed the spirit of Song Dynasty scholars: while adhering to the Confucian principle of "cultivating oneself and governing the country," they also relied on Buddhism and Taoism to "enlighten their minds and see their nature" and "follow nature" to alleviate the worries of officialdom, gradually becoming "Confucian on the outside, Buddhist and Taoist on the inside." Su Shi's open-minded attitude of "living life in a raincoat and a straw hat" and Fan Zhongyan's broad-minded attitude of "not being happy with things or sad with oneself" are both clear examples of this mentality. This mindset is also reflected in literature: in poetry, "using Zen as metaphor" and "incorporating Taoism into poetry" are commonplace, ci poetry transcends eroticism to incorporate philosophical and broad-minded ideas, and prose, while grounded in Confucianism's "clarifying the Dao for practical application," also incorporates the Buddhist and Taoist concept of "clearing the mind and observing things." Combining the lives and works of Su Shi, Ouyang Xiu, and Huang Tzu, we examine how the integration of these three religions shaped their mindsets and how it interacted with their creative work. Ultimately, the aim is to understand the roots of this "blending of emotion and reason" in Song Dynasty literature.

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