I. Introduction.
Journey to the West is one of the four great masterpieces of ancient China, and it is also a literary work with a deep religious background. The main characters involved in it - Tang Seng, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Seng and other characters all have distinct religious colors. So, is "Journey to the West" Buddhism or Taoism?This article will dive into this**.
2. The basic characteristics of Buddhism and Taoism.
1.The basic characteristics of Buddhism.
Buddhism is a religion that spreads widely in India, and its core belief is the pursuit of liberation from the cycle of birth and death and the attainment of nirvana. In Buddhism, a Buddha is the highest state, an enlightened being who transcends birth and death and has boundless wisdom and compassion. In addition, Buddhism emphasizes karma, compassion, and equality.
2.The basic characteristics of Taoism.
Taoism originated in China, and the core of its belief is the pursuit of immortality and ascension to the immortal realm. Taoism respects Lao Tzu as the ancestor of Taoism, and pays attention to the balance of yin and yang and Taoism and nature. Taoism pays attention to practical skills such as cultivating health preservation, exorcising evil spirits and disasters, and also pursues becoming immortals and attaining Taoism.
3. Elements of Buddhism and Taoism in "Journey to the West".
1.Buddhist elements.
First of all, Tang Seng is one of the protagonists in "Journey to the West", and his image has a strong Buddhist color. Tang Seng is a great monk in Buddhism, who takes the pursuit of Buddhism and the spread of Buddhism as his own responsibility. On the way to learn the scriptures, Tang Seng and the public ** experienced all kinds of tribulations, and these tribulations are mostly related to the teachings and beliefs of Buddhism. In addition, as one of the representatives of Buddhism, the Buddha played an important guiding role in "Journey to the West".
2.Taoist elements.
On the other hand, there are also obvious Taoist elements in "Journey to the West". For example, Taishang Laojun, as one of the representatives of Taoism, gave Tang monks elixir to save the world and helped him overcome many difficulties. In addition, some Taoist concepts and skills can also be reflected in "Journey to the West", such as the five elements of yin and yang, cultivation and health preservation, etc.
Fourth, the integration of Buddhism and Taoism in "Journey to the West".
It is worth noting that "Journey to the West" does not completely separate Buddhism and Taoism, but organically integrates them. This convergence manifests itself in a number of ways. First of all, in terms of characters, Tang Seng and Sun Wukong have the dual characteristics of Buddhism and Taoism. For example, although Sun Wukong has a monkey appearance and a mischievous personality, he also possesses Buddhist traits such as wisdom and compassion. Secondly, in terms of storyline, "Journey to the West" also reflects the mutual influence and integration of Buddhism and Taoism. For example, the tribulations on the way to the scriptures are not only a test of Buddhist beliefs, but also a practice of Taoist cultivation and health preservation. In addition, "Journey to the West" also shows the Taoist concept of pursuing immortality and ascending to the immortal world by describing scenes such as the fairy world and the heavenly palace.
5. Conclusion: Journey to the West is a fusion of Buddhism and Taoism.
To sum up, "Journey to the West" is not a simple Buddhist or Taoist work, but an organic fusion of two religious elements. This integration makes "Journey to the West" not only rich in religious overtones, but also shows the diversity and inclusiveness of ancient Chinese culture. The characters, storylines, and ideological connotations in Journey to the West fully reflect the intertwined characteristics of Buddhism and Taoism, providing readers with a unique perspective on ancient Chinese religious culture.