In the glory days of the Tang Dynasty, the name Han Yu was like a bright star, illuminating the night sky of literature and thought. He is not only known as the head of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties" for his outstanding literary achievements, but also has become an indispensable cultural giant in Chinese history with his profound thoughts and firm stand. However, Han Yu's life was not only praise and glory, he once suffered a major setback in his life because he insisted on his own views and opposed the emperor's welcome to the Buddha's bones. So, why did Han Yu oppose this grand religious ceremony?
In 819 AD, Tang Xianzong decided to worship the Buddha's bones, a decision that caused a sensation throughout the country. Buddhism reached unprecedented prosperity during the Tang Dynasty, and both the emperor and the common people were convinced that the power of Buddhism could bring peace to the country and the people. However, in this craze, Han Yu was like a clear stream, and he firmly raised opposing opinions.
Han Yu's opposition to the Buddha bone is many. First of all, he considered such a ritual to be an extreme extravagance, which would not only cost the state a huge amount of money, but also increase the burden on the common people. In the context of that time, the country had just experienced the "Anshi Rebellion", people's livelihood was withering, and the country's financial situation was not optimistic, so Han Yu believed that such expenses were unnecessary and even disastrous.
Second, Han Yu believed that there was a fundamental conflict between the teachings of Buddhism and the ideas of Confucianism. Buddhism emphasizes personal practice and detachment, while Confucianism emphasizes human ethics and social responsibility. Han Yu firmly believes that the prosperity and stability of the country requires the struggle and efforts of the people, not the power of Buddhism. Finally, Han Yu believed that the Buddha bones would fuel the power of Buddhism, which was a threat to the status and influence of Confucianism.
Han Yu's opposition eventually aroused the wrath of Tang Xianzong, and he was relegated to the distant Chaozhou. However, Han Yu did not change his views because of this, and he still insisted on his ideas during his time in Chaozhou and actively promoted the Guwen movement.
Han Yu's purpose in promoting the ancient literary movement was to change the atmosphere of the literary world at that time, which he believed was too ornate and empty, and lacked substantive content and ideas. He hoped to restore the ancient style of writing through the Ancient Literature Movement, emphasizing the essence and ideology of the articles, so as to promote the development and progress of society. Han Yu's Guwen Movement had a profound impact on the development of literature in later generations, and he was hailed as the "pioneer of the Guwen Movement".
Han Yu's opposition to the emperor's welcoming of Buddha bones was based on his adherence to Confucianism and his concern for the country's livelihood. He hoped that through his own efforts, he would change the social atmosphere and the situation of the literary world at that time, and promote the development and progress of society. Although he was reviled for this, his thoughts and actions had a profound impact on later generations, and he was hailed as the head of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties" and was an important figure in the history of Chinese culture.