I urgently ask why Taoism is portrayed as the opposite in Journey to the West. Does praising Buddhism mean belittling Taoism?

2024-09-13 06:05

What was the intention of the author, Wu Chengen?

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2024-09-13 09:33

In Journey to the West, Taoism was portrayed as a negative and belittling image because in the novel, Buddhism and Taoism were two different forces with their own interests and goals. In the novel, the main characters of Buddhism were Tang Sanzang and his disciples, while the main characters of Taoism were monsters and demons. Due to the great influence of Buddhism in Chinese culture, Buddhism was often portrayed as a positive image and Taoism as a negative image in novels. This way of portraying Buddhism was not to praise or belittle Buddhism, but to express the theme and plot of the novel. In the novel, the characters of Buddhism and Taoism have their own unique charm and characteristics. Their existence is to show the differences and conflicts between different cultures and deepen the readers 'understanding of different cultures. Therefore, we cannot simply think that praising Buddhism means belittling Taoism, or belittling Taoism means praising Buddhism.

Why were there incarnations of Buddhism and Taoism in Journey to the West?

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2024-09-17 05:47

Journey to the West is a novel that combines Buddhist and Taoist elements. Many of the characters are the embodiment of Buddhism and Taoism. In Buddhism, Sun Wukong was the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Zhu Bajie was the incarnation of Mars god, Sha Wujing was the incarnation of Saturn god, and Tang Sanzang was the incarnation of Buddha Shakyamuni. In Taoism, Sun Wukong was the incarnation of Taishang Laojun, Zhu Bajie was the incarnation of the Jade Emperor, Sha Wujing was the incarnation of the South Pole Immortal Weng, and Tang Sanzang was regarded as the teacher of Tang Sanzang and his disciples who went to the West to obtain scriptures. In addition, many other characters in Journey to the West were also incarnations of Buddhism and Taoism. For example, Bai Jingjing was the incarnation of God Jingjing, the Black Wind Monster was the incarnation of the Demon King Black Bear, and Monk Sha was the incarnation of God Nazha. Journey to the West combined the elements of Buddhism and Taoism, combining the stories and characters of the two religions to show the understanding and exchange of beliefs of the ancient people.

Why was it said that Journey to the West praised Taoism and belittled Buddhism?

1 answer

2024-09-20 02:39

"Journey to the West" does not explicitly praise or belittle any religion. It is a fictional novel that tells the story of Tang Sanzang and his four disciples going to the West to obtain scriptures. Buddhism and Taoism both played important roles in the novel, but the plot and characters were not judged based on any religious belief. The main characters in Journey to the West had their own backgrounds and personalities. Their actions and decisions were influenced by their own values and beliefs. For example, as a Buddhist character, Sun Wukong abided by Buddhist teachings to protect Tang Sanzang and his disciples, but when he encountered difficulties, he would also use some Taoist methods to solve the problem. The plot and storyline of Journey to the West were very complicated, involving many different elements and topics, including adventure, love, power struggle, moral education, and so on. Therefore, it did not simply praise or belittle any religion. Instead, it showed the interaction and exchange between many cultures and beliefs in a creative and imaginative way.

Why did Journey to the West elevate Buddhism and belittle Taoism?

1 answer

2024-09-13 06:01

Journey to the West was a classical Chinese novel, in which the plot that exalted Buddhism and belittled Taoism was not one of the main plots. In the novel, Buddhism and Taoism were two different religious forces with their own beliefs and leaders. Although there were some images and stories depicting Buddhism in the novel, there was no obvious plot to elevate Buddhism. On the contrary, the novel depicted some Taoist characters and plots, such as Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie's communication with Taoist priests, as well as the communication between Tang Sanzang and his Buddhist master, etc. In the novel, the characters of Buddhism and Taoism have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they are not mutually exclusive. On the way to get the scriptures, Tang Sanzang and his team had to face various difficulties and challenges. They also had to communicate and cooperate with other religious forces in order to complete the mission. Therefore, the novel did not elevate or belittle any religion, but was an inclusive and diverse storyline.

Journey to the West integrated Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. In what ways?

1 answer

2024-09-20 19:41

Journey to the West was a classic novel that integrated Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. It was embodied in the following aspects: The plot of the story is a fusion of Confucian ideas: there are many explanations about morality, ethics, and philosophy of life in the novel. For example, in the Legend of Wukong, Sun Wukong's path of cultivation is planned according to the Confucian idea of "cultivating one's moral character, regulating one's family, governing the country, and pacifying the world". In addition, there were many discussions about human nature, good and evil, and desire in the novel, which also reflected the thoughts of Confucianism. 2. The characters are integrated with Taoist thoughts: many characters in the novel have the shadow of Taoist thoughts, such as Sun Wukong's Tao, Zhu Bajie's laziness, Sha Wujing's loyalty, etc. Taoism's emphasis on "governing by inaction" was also well reflected in Journey to the West. Many characters in the novel were escaping from reality and pursuing a realm of governing by inaction. 3. The art form is integrated with Buddhist thoughts: There are many Buddhist elements in the novel, such as monsters, immortals, Buddha, etc. The image and plot design of these characters are integrated with Buddhist thoughts. In addition, there were many Buddhist scriptures and doctrines in the novel, such as the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra. These scriptures also reflected Buddhist thoughts.

Honors of Buddhism and Taoism

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2024-08-19 21:17

There might be the following types of honors for Buddhism and Taoism: 1. Receive special awards: novels that cultivate both Buddhism and Taoism often have unique depth of thought and philosophical content, so they may receive some special awards such as literary awards, art awards, etc. 2. Receive good reviews from readers: novels about Buddhism and Taoism are usually well received by readers because their unique depth of thought and philosophical content can attract readers 'interest and cause them to think. 3. Author's honor: An author who practices both Buddhism and Taoism may receive some honors such as the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Nebula Prize, and so on. This was because their novels had a unique depth of thought and philosophical content that could resonate with readers and have a far-reaching impact. 4. Acquire social influence: novels that cultivate both Buddhism and Taoism may have an impact on society because they have profound thoughts and can guide readers to think and shape their values. This kind of novel might become a hot topic in society and attract widespread discussion and attention.

Between Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West, which was more important, Buddhism or Taoism?

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2024-09-13 13:50

The Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West were both Chinese myths and legends, which contained rich Buddhist and Taoist elements. Buddhism and Taoism both have a long history in China and have had a profound influence on Chinese culture in different historical periods. Therefore, the question of which was more important between Buddhism and Taoism was not a simple answer. Buddhist and Taoist elements appeared in both the Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West. For example, the images of Buddha, Bodhisattva, and the Eight Forms of Heavenly Dragons in Buddhism and the concepts of immortals and immortals in Taoism were all reflected in these novels. However, the background of these novels, the author's standpoint, the plot of the story and other factors will affect the status of Buddhism and Taoism, so it is not easy to make a conclusion about which is more important. In addition, due to the complexity of Chinese cultural traditions, the relationship between Buddhism and Taoism is also complicated. Some people think that Buddhism has a more profound influence on Chinese culture and philosophy and should be paid more attention to, while others think that Taoism plays an important role in Chinese culture and philosophy and has a profound influence on modern society. Therefore, the question of which was more important between Buddhism and Taoism should be analyzed and judged according to the specific situation.

Was Taoism or Buddhism more powerful?

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2024-09-18 01:19

Taoism and Buddhism are both Chinese religions with a long history and rich cultural heritage. Each of them had produced unique doctrines and practices in different historical periods and regions, which had a profound impact on Chinese culture and society. In terms of influence, Taoism played an important role in Chinese history and culture. It was regarded as a religion that paid attention to nature and pursued physical and mental health. Buddhism originated from India and had a wide influence after it was introduced into China. Buddhism emphasized the relationship between man and the world, advocated getting rid of pain and pursuing nirvana. It was a religion with profound thoughts and rich practical methods. To evaluate which was more powerful, Taoism or Buddhism, one needed to consider various factors such as religious doctrines, practice methods, cultural background, social influence, and so on. Different religions had their own unique charm and value, and it was difficult to compare and judge them simply.

Is Taoism or Buddhism more powerful?

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2024-09-03 06:05

Taoism and Buddhism are both ancient Chinese religions with a long history and rich cultural content. In religious rituals, Taoism focused on the cultivation of the body and mind in pursuit of immortality, immortality, and the realm of immortals, while Buddhism focused on eliminating troubles, transcending life and death, and pursuing Nirvana (release). In the field of literature, Taoist classics such as Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi were created into literary works such as Dream of the Red Chamber. Buddhist classics were more often created into novels, plays, and other literary works such as Journey to the West and Water Margins. To sum up, Taoism and Buddhism both had their own unique literary value. It was impossible to simply compare which was more powerful. In different cultures and historical periods, Taoism and Buddhism had their own unique influence and status.

Is the novel Journey to the West respecting Buddha or Taoism?

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2024-09-12 00:45

Journey to the West was a novel that respected Buddhism and suppressed Taoism. The protagonist of the novel, Sun Wukong, was a Buddhist character. He fought with all kinds of monsters and immortals on the way to learn Buddhist scriptures, and constantly cultivated his own Dao. At the same time, he also had some understanding of Buddhist ideas. However, at the end of the novel, Sun Wukong also realized that the Taoist ideology of "everything has karma" expressed the author's respect and recognition of Taoist ideology. Therefore, it can be said that Journey to the West is a novel that respects Buddha and restrains Taoism. It has both Buddhist and Taoist backgrounds.

Did Taoism introduce the four heavenly kings from Buddhism or was it just the opposite?

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2024-09-24 00:26

The Four Heavenly Kings were a Buddhist concept that appeared in the Buddhist system of the Eight Heavenly Dragons. They were the four guardians of the Buddhist universe. There was no concept of the Four Heavenly Kings in Taoism, so it could be said that Taoism introduced the Four Heavenly Kings from Buddhism. However, some of the gods in Taoism are similar to the heavenly kings in Buddhism, such as the Five Mountain Gods and the Jade Emperor. This may also be the reason why some readers believe that there are also four heavenly kings in Taoism.