The Speculative Philosophy of the Triunity in Chinese Universism (TAOISM) and Buddhism

Abstract

In this essay the onto-dynamics of the triunity in T’ien-t’ai Buddhism, the common foundation of Chinese Universism and the related inter-cultural philosophy of inter-religious dialogue, will be investigated.1 The following themes in the speculative philosophy of Buddhism and the related inter-religious dialogue will be discussed: (a) The theory of the onto-dynamics of the triunity has three essential elements: (1) triadic, (2) negation, and (3) dynamic. All three elements belong to a cycle, an empty roundness. This is the totality and entirety in the theory of the triunity. (b) “Negation” is non-vertical and non-horizontal, and rejects both the synchronic-epistemological-horizontal understanding and the diachronicontological-vertical understanding of other schools. The non-vertical and non-horizontal is not only a negation of nihilism, however; it also implies a two-fold articulation, because the triunity not only corresponds to non-vertical and non-horizontal negation, but also implies an onto-dynamics of revolving around one another. (c) The two kinds of theory of the triunity in classical Chinese philosophy will be explained. The theory of the triunity has two trends: (1) an epistemological triunity (earth, heaven, humanity), and (2) an ontological triunity (t’ai-chi, yin, yang). These two trends also develop further in later Chinese Buddhism. (d) Chih-i’s (538-97) theory of the triunity implies a new opportunity for inter-religious dialogue in global thought, the conversation of religions, and an inter-cultural philosophy, because (1) the triunity and the themes related to it are also core concepts of Western theology and philosophy, and (2) the theory of the triunity presupposes a methodology of the pluralism of the theology of religion.2 KeywordsHuman PersonDependent OriginAbsolute IdentityAbsolute KnowledgePaperback EditionThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.