Anyone interested in the Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism has probably wondered how they coexist together and what kind of debates arise between them. On 3rd of March, Dr. Tadas Snuviškis, a researcher of Eastern philosophical systems and religions (Lithuanian Culture Research Institute), gave a public lecture entitled "Looking at Three Chinese Philosophies: The Polemics of Confucianism and Taoism with Buddhism" in which he discussed the basic characteristics of the three philosophies and the controversies that have emerged between them ever since Buddhism spread to China.
Buddhist teaching (originating in India and Central Asia) began to spread in China in the 1st and 2nd centuries, causing tensions and debates between Taoist and Confucian thinkers. Reviewing these philosophies, the main teaching principles of Confucianism (儒家rújiā) are: respect for parents (孝 xiào) and elders, which includes the importance of relationships between people, the cultivation of personal qualities, learning/self-education, and the respect of ritual and ancient customs. In terms of Taoism (道教dàojiào), the basic principles of the teaching are Tao (道dào), the origin of all things; non-doing (无为wúwéi); and the intellectuality and rationality as obstacle. Meanwhile, the main goal of Buddhist teaching (佛教 fójiào) is liberation from suffering (苦kǔ). This is done through various practices, such as the Eightfold Path, which involves the right attitude, intention, language, actions, lifestyle, effort, attention and concentration. It also emphasizes monasticism - complete separation from the laity, which is not the case with Taoists and Confucianists.
Thus, these three philosophies from the 5th century competed and sparked a tense debate. Interestingly, this debate took place through the writing of texts: Confucianists or Taoists wrote a text criticizing Buddhism, and Buddhists counter-argued and expressed their criticism of these teachings. The texts were sent to the rulers, who, with their advisers, evaluated which teaching arguments were stronger and which teaching to support.
Dr. T. Snuviškis highlighted the main criticisms raised by Taoists and Confucianists against the Buddhist teachings that were gaining ground at the time: the abundance and unsubstantiated nature of the texts, the dilemma of the existence of the soul, the uselessness of the teachings for the governance of the state, and the brevity of the teaching and its "barbaric" origins. Meanwhile, Buddhists have criticized Taoism for the unsoundness of the Tao Principle, arguing that Taoists copy and distort Buddhist texts, and that Taoism's own teachings are rebellious and unpredictable. The debates with the Confucianists arose over different views of the ruler, the question of the existence of the soul, the contradiction of ethical concepts, etc.
Around the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Ming Dynasty, animosity and rivalry between philosophies disappeared and the expression 三教合一 (sān jiào hé yī), meaning the unity of the three religions, became common. Even today, however, Buddhism is still considered a foreign teaching by many Chinese.