ePub Summoning the Powers Beyond: Traditional Religions in Micronesia by Jay Dobbin; Francis X. Hezel S.J. in History

Description

This volume makes available in English the seminal treatises in Korea's greatest interreligious debate of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. On Mind; Material Force; and Principle and An Array of Critiques of Buddhism by Confucian statesman Chŏng Tojŏn (1342–1398) and Exposition of Orthodoxy by Sŏn monk Kihwa (1376–1433) are presented here with extensive annotation. A substantial introduction provides a summary and analysis of the philosophical positions of both Neo-Confucianism and Buddhism as well as a germane history of the interactions between these two traditions in East Asia; offering insight into religious tensions that persist to this day.Translator A. Charles Muller shows how; from the time Confucianism and Buddhism met in China; these thought systems existed; along with Daoism; in a competing relationship that featured significant mutual influence. A confrontative situation eventually developed in China; wherein Confucian leaders began to criticize Buddhism. During the late-Koryŏ and early-Chosŏn periods in Korea; the Neo-Confucian polemic became the driving force in the movement to oust Buddhism from its position as Korea's state religion. In his essays; Chŏng drew together the gamut of arguments that had been made against Buddhism throughout its long history in Korea. Kihwa's essay met Neo-Confucian contentions with an articulate Buddhist response. Thus; in a rare moment in the history of religions; a true philosophical debate ensued. This debate was made possible based upon the two religions' shared philosophical paradigm: essence-function (ch'e-yong). This traditional East Asian way of interpreting society; events; phenomena; human beings; and the world understands all things to have both essence and function; two contrasting yet wholly contiguous and mutually containing components. All three East Asian traditions took this as their underlying philosophical paradigm; and it is through this paradigm that they evaluated and criticized each other's doctrines and practices.Specialists in philosophy; religion; and Korean studies will appreciate Muller's exploration of this pivotal moment in Korean intellectual history. Because it includes a broad overview of the interactive history of East Asian religions; this book can also serve as a general introduction to East Asian philosophical thought.