In the long river of ancient Chinese culture, there was an outstanding monk, and his name was Shi Qisong. He was born in the Qingli period of the Northern Song Dynasty, became a monk at the age of seven, experienced a long path of cultivation, and finally passed away in Yong'an Temple on Lingyin Mountain. With his profound learning and unique insights, Shi Qisong has become a giant in the history of Chinese Buddhism.
Shi Qisong, commonly known as Li, Zhongling, and Qianzi, was born in Jinjin, Tengzhou, Guangxi, and became a monk at the age of seven. After receiving full ordination at the age of 14, he embarked on an extensive career of wandering. Later, he learned the Dharma from Zen Master Xiaocong in Dongshan in Ruizhou, Jiangxi Province, and settled in Lingyin Mountain in Hangzhou. In 1072, he passed away in Yong'an Temple in Lingyin Mountain, at the age of sixty-six, and the monk was fifty-three. Shi Qisong's life carried the brilliance of Buddhism and laid a solid foundation for the later development of Buddhism.
At a certain turning point in Chinese history, Shi Qisong began to write the "Auxiliary Teaching Edition". This huge work is divided into three parts, the first, the middle and the second, with a total number of nearly 30,000 words, which is almost six times that of the famous writer Ouyang Xiu's "Ontology" at that time. In this work, Shi Qisong not only refutes Ouyang Xiu's views, but also puts forward his own unique Confucian and Buddhist system. Through the chapters of "Guangyuan Teaching", "Treatise on Filial Piety", "Sutra Praise", and "Treatise on the True Meaning and No Sacracy", he profoundly demonstrated the commonalities between Buddhism and Confucianism, and contributed a spark of wisdom to the integration of the two.
During the Song dynasty, the rise of Confucianism was accompanied by a wave of rejection of Buddhism. Ouyang Xiu and others advocated the innovation of ancient literature and called on the society to abandon Buddhism and advocate Confucianism. Shi Qisong deeply felt the danger of rejecting Buddhism, and he knew that the battle of words and tongues could not reverse the tide, and a breakthrough must be made in theory. Therefore, he challenged the extreme concept of excluding Buddhism, advocated the unity of Confucianism and Buddhism, spread it in the southeast region through the "Auxiliary Teaching Edition", and recommended it to the imperial court to write a letter to Emperor Renzong. This courageous action is rare in the history of Buddhism, and demonstrates Shaktisong's firm belief in Buddhism.
He realized that if his theories were not accepted and disseminated by the upper ruling circles, his efforts would be in vain. For this reason, he resolutely went to Bianjing, and presented the "Auxiliary Teaching Edition" to Emperor Renzong and his courtiers through various connections to gain recognition for his theory. This move helped Shi Qisong rise to prominence in the government and the opposition, and eventually he was named "Master of Mingjiao" and was given a purple robe and laurels. Shi Qisong became the pioneer in the history of Chinese Buddhism with his Confucianism and Buddhism system, which provided a useful reference for later scholars.
Zen Master Shi Qisong left a glorious mark in the history of Chinese Buddhism. He not only challenged the trend of anti-Buddhism in theory, but also demonstrated his adherence to Buddhism in action. Through his works such as the Auxiliary Teaching Edition, he established the Confucian and Buddhist system, contributing to the pluralistic integration of Chinese culture. The wisdom of Shi Qisong, like the spring of Lingyin Mountain, is clear and long-lasting, and it still guides the direction of future generations today.
As an outstanding figure in the history of Chinese Buddhism, Shi Qisong's courage and wisdom in the dispute between Confucianism and Buddhism are truly admirable. With his profound practice and outstanding knowledge, he resisted the wave of exclusion of Buddhism at that time, put forward the theory of Confucianism and Buddhism, and made outstanding contributions to the pluralistic integration of Chinese culture.
First of all, Shi Qisong's life experience shows his strong belief in Buddhism and his high demand for moral cultivation. From the age of seven to the age of nineteen, he traveled the world, a series of spiritual journeys that not only showed his sincere pursuit of Buddhism, but also cultivated his broad knowledge and mind. The richness of this life experience made him more convincing in later debates, and people paid more attention to his remarks.
Secondly, Shi Qisong's "Auxiliary Teaching Edition" injected new ideas and vitality into the development and inheritance of Buddhism at that time. In the face of the anti-Buddhist trend at that time, he did not simply fight back, but showed his deep understanding of Buddhism through debates and writings with a rational and tolerant attitude. His viewpoint not only advocates the true meaning of Buddhism in dialectic, but also promotes Confucian benevolence and righteousness in synthesis. This unique theory of Confucianism and Buddhism provided a new idea of cultural integration for the society at that time, which not only narrowed the distance between Buddhism and Confucianism, but also laid the foundation for the harmonious coexistence of the two.
While facing the trend of rejecting Buddhism, Shi Qisong's courage is also reflected in his actions of going to Bianjing without fear of hardships and dangers. He knew that if his theory was confined to the southeastern corner, it would not be able to have an impact on a wider scale. Therefore, he resolutely moved forward and presented his works to Emperor Renzong and other powerful people through various channels, creating conditions for the recognition and dissemination of the Confucian Buddhism theory in the imperial court. This spirit of daring to take risks and face difficulties is the key to Shi Qisong's victory over adversity in the battle between Confucianism and Buddhism.
Finally, Shi Qisong's contribution to the history of Chinese Buddhism is far-reaching and long-lasting. His theory of Confucianism and Buddhism provided inspiration for later scholars, prompted people to pay more attention to the commonalities between Buddhism and Confucianism, and promoted the diversified development of Chinese culture. The wisdom of Shi Qisong is like a beacon, guiding future generations to explore the relationship between Confucianism and Buddhism, making it a treasure in the history of Chinese Buddhism.
In general, Shi Qisong has left a strong mark in the history of Chinese Buddhism with his profound learning, tenacious beliefs, and outstanding contributions to cultural integration. His theoretical achievements not only attracted wide attention at the time, but also provided rich inspiration for later times, leaving a valuable legacy for the inheritance and development of Chinese culture.
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