Confucianism and Buddhism

Buddhism originated in India and spread across the Tibetan mountains, absorbing Chinese culture, passing through the Korean Peninsula, and reaching Japan after 1,200 years of Buddha’s period. Therefore, it was transmitted while assimilating the local cultures. Notably, it is said to have been greatly influenced by Confucianism, a Chinese philosophy, and ancient Taoism. Here, let's consider the compassion of Buddhism and the benevolence of Confucianism.

Originally, "compassion" and "benevolence" were different words. "Compassion" is said to have come from the Pali word "Mitra," which means "friend" (as mentioned in the "Nakamura Hajime Bukkyo Go Daijiten," a comprehensive dictionary of Buddhist terms), representing true friendship. "Benevolence" is said to have originated from the Sanskrit word "karuna," which means "suffering," representing empathy where "your suffering is my suffering, and your joy is my joy."

The Confucian virtue of "benevolence" means "sincerity and compassion" (as described in the "Super Daijirin," a comprehensive Japanese dictionary). Confucius admired the political system of the Zhou Dynasty and aimed to govern the country not through military power but through traditional culture. Confucius led a life of travel but later became a private tutor, had excellent disciples, and Confucianism developed thereafter.

The number of disciples of Buddha in his later years exceeded 1,200. There is a legend that during the reign of the righteous king Kushinagar in India, the era was peaceful due to virtue-based politics. Buddha respected the righteous king. Despite the differences between Buddhism and Confucianism, it is essential to acknowledge their shared values.

翻訳: OpenAI ChatGPT

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