A comparison between the concept of "Sincerity" in Song Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism

Abstract

‘Sincerity’ is an important concept shared by Confucianism and Buddhism. Especially in the Song dynasty, from Zhou Dunyi onwards, the concept of ‘sincerity’ has been analysed up to the stage of ontology. In contrast, Chinese Buddhism has a different way of answering the question of ontology, and the interpretation of ‘sincerity’ is limited and submerged in a multitude of other concepts. Confucianism pursues the norms of secular life, and ‘sincerity’ as the moral and ethical foundation of secular life has an important position in Song Confucianism. In Buddhism, which pursues the practice of worldly life, ‘sincerity’ as one of the five precepts also has an important position, but the grandiose world of Buddhist philosophy tends to make people neglect this important concept.

Keywords: Sincerity; Song Confucianism; Buddhism