Zhu Xi's Critique of Buddhism: Selfishness, Salvation, and Self Cultivation

Abstract

<p>This chapter examines Zhu Xi’s criticisms of Buddhism in order to identify the positions Zhu developed <em>in opposition</em> to Buddhist doctrines. Zhu’s letters, essays, and discussions with students show that Zhu tended to think that regardless of how subtle and defensible the Buddhists’ explicit views may have been in principle, in practice these views amount to something very different. Zhu developed three sets of criticisms in opposition to Buddhist views. The first set has to do with Buddhist soteriology, the fundamental priority of Buddhist salvation; the second concerns Buddhist meditation; and the third concerns the Buddhist doctrine of emptiness. The chapter concludes that Zhu was not engaged merely with a fictional notion of Buddhism. Rather, Zhu’s views and the arguments he advanced in support of them were developed in direct response to Buddhist thought, revealing that Zhu participated in a genuine, shared dialogue with his Buddhist adversaries.<br></p>