유학 심성론과 중국 불학의 관계 이해 - 『육조단경』을 중심으로 -

Abstract

Buddhism from India and Confucianism from China - What features do they have? How did Buddhism influence Confucianism in China? How did Confucianism influence the Sinicization of Buddhism in China? What significance do these influences have theoretically? These questions refer to themes and subjects that can interest academics who study Buddhism, Confucianism, or Orientalism. The fact that Buddhism became Sinicized after it crossed the border from India to China is undeniable. The Chinese did not simply imitate Buddhism as it was in India or inherit Buddhism in a perfunctory fashion. Rather, it is reasonable to say that Buddhism was Sinicized in China. One distinct feature in Chinese philosophy is the Theory of Human Nature. Discussed constantly since the Pre-Qin period, the Theory of Human Nature came face to face with the Buddha-nature theory before it could form a solid local foundation. It is clear that during their evolution together, these two philosophies influence each other. This paper will analyze the impact of the Theory of Human Nature from Confucianism on the Buddha-nature Theory from 『the Platform Sutra』. The significance of 『the Platform Sutra』written by Huineng is that it transforms concepts of abstraction and ontology used in Indian Buddhism into a more specific and realistic human emotions/thought. It changes reverence toward Buddha in Indian Buddhism into reverence toward the heart. Huineng also replaced extrinsic religion with intrinsic religion. As such, the most important role of Huineng could be argued to be the fact that he reformed the religion of Buddha into a ‘religion of the heart’.