Integration of Three Religions
The integration of three religions refers to the fusion of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism even though each preserves its respective features. A basic framework thus emerged with Confucianism at its core, complemented by Buddhism and Daoism, and became a dominant force in Chinese society, exerting a profound and far-reaching influence on China's his- tory of thought and culture.
After Buddhism was introduced to China, a process of mutual learning among Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism and their integration began to unfold. During the Wei (220- 265), Jin (265-439), and the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-581), this integration reached a peak. Buddhism absorbed the Confucian ethics of loyalty and filial piety, gradually finding its way into local life and increasingly exhibiting Chinese cultural features. Daoism incorporated Confucian ethics and folk beliefs, while drawing on the experience in how Buddhist temples were organized and rituals performed, a move that allowed Daoism to develop a mature set of theoretical principles of its own, a more sophisticated organizational structure and more established rituals. The Sui (581-608) and Tang (608-907) dynasties witnessed further integration of the three schools of thought. Buddhism began actively absorbing the Confucian concept of the Golden Mean and the Daoist idea of staying true to one's nature, leading to the emergence of Chan Buddhism, Jingtu (Pure Land) Buddhism, and Lüzong (Vinaya) Buddhism – sects with Chinese characteristics. In the Northern
Song Dynasty, the integration of the three schools reached yet another climax. Neo-Confucianism came into being by absorbing Buddhist and Taoist ideas. Taoism went on to absorb more Confucian and Buddhist thoughts and internalized the concept of self-cultivation and the way it was practiced. This integration of the three schools continued throughout the Yuan (1206- 1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1616-1911) dynasties. The Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming developed the study of the mind by incorporating ideas from Buddhism and Taoism into Confucianism. Meanwhile, in the late Ming Dynasty Taoism and Buddhism increasingly found their way into secular life.
The process of the integration of the three religious tradi- tions showcased how China's homegrown culture converged with imported cultural elements, reflecting the inclusiveness and openness and a longing for peace of the Chinese nation. These qualities also explain the resilience of Chinese culture over time.
三教合一
三教合一，就是中國儒家、佛教與道教思想，保留各自特點，相互會通、合流的現象，形成了以儒家為主，佛教與道教為輔的基本格局，融合發展成為中華文化的主流，對中國思想史、文化史產生持久且深刻的影響。
佛教自從傳入中國后，就一直與儒家、道教互相借鑒與融合。魏晉南北朝時期是三教融合的第一次高潮，佛教思想吸收儒家忠孝的倫理，逐漸本土化、中國化；而道教吸收儒家倫理、道家哲學與民間信仰，借鑒佛教的僧團寺廟組織與儀式，其理論、組織架構、儀式等逐漸成熟。隋唐時期，三者進一步融合。佛教主動吸收儒家的中庸思想與道家的自然思想，最終形成具有中國特色的佛教宗派禪宗、凈土宗與律宗。北宋時期，三教融合又一次達到高潮，儒家吸收佛學、道家思想，形成“理學”，道教吸收儒家、佛教思想，其修養理論與方法更加內化。元明清時期，三教融合進一步發展。明代哲學家王陽明以儒家為主，融合佛教、道教思想， 提出“心學”。同時，道教、佛教在晚明時期表現出世俗化、入世化的趨勢。
“三教合一”反映了中國本土文化與外來文化之間的“交融性”，深刻體現了中華民族包容、和平、開放的精神氣質與文明品格，這也是中華文明歷久彌新的重要原因。
