FINAL PAPER ASSIGNMENT. Literature & Language Essay

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Final Paper Assignment
The rise of new philosophical thinking in China and Japan began in the early nineteenth century when philosophers and scholars sought to respond to challenges of that time. Therefore, they borrowed Western political thoughts to solve these problems by creating a new system of thought. Communist thoughts began to operate in the Chinese political system, especially in the Chinese Communist Party, in one hand and thoughts of Japanese ultranationalists on the other hand. The purpose of incorporating these new philosophical thoughts was to keep both Chinese and Japanese traditions alive in the wake of nationalist movements. Additionally, the new way of thinking influenced the Chinese and Japanese traditions in several ways. In the 20th century, there has been a revival of the Neo-Confucianism and Buddhism movements despite tremendous political upheavals in the East Asian region. The purpose of this assignment is to compare and contrast Zhu Xi Neo-Confucianism, and Chan/Zen Buddhism philosophies following Biblical writings in Ecclesiastes 1:9, 'What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.' 
Comparison between Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism and Chan/Zen Buddhism
Zhu Xi (1130-1200) is one of the most influential philosophers of Neo-Confucianism. However, Zhu was influenced by the study and experimentation of Daoism and Zen Buddhism. Furthermore, he was a great admirer of other Confucian thinkers of his time, such as the Cheng brothers. Zhu became one of the most influential thinkers and speakers during the end of the Song Dynasty and the entire Daoxue tradition. Zhu Xi focused on the metaphysical dualism of essential stuff qi and pattern li, which he used to explain human life and moral knowledge. In 1313, his Confucian teachings became the basis of local examination, and for many years, his writings influenced the aspiring students of Confucianism as well as civil servants. He thought and wrote carefully on the methods of cultivating values. Furthermore, he wrote about history, the art of administration, politics.
Chan or Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism, which was derived from Sanskrit Dhyāna, which means 'to meditate' or 'meditation.' The Zen school of Buddhism emphasizes the practice and experimentation of wisdom, which in this case, is referred to as 'dharma,' which in meditation known as 'zazen.' Furthermore, Zen focuses on the attainment of awakening, which is the path of enlightenment. It is interested in religious writings and knowledge that lead to the direct practice of meditation. Its interaction with Taoism faiths caused the entry of Zen Buddhism in China. Zen, which is referred to as Chen in Chinese, grew to become one of the largest sects of Chinese Buddhism. Zen Buddhism consists of practices of Buddha by nuns and monks who belong to a large religious family. Each family demonstrates and performs rites that conform to Confucian-style in line with their spiritual ancestors. In Japan, Zen monks and nuns played a significant role in the introduction of arts and literature of the Song-Dynasty to Japanese leaders in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Furthermore, the Japanese imperial family-sponsored these monks to lead a mission in China. While in China, Zen monks taught neo-Confucianism, which incorporated ethics and metaphysics. 
Therefore, the teachings of Zen Buddhism related well with the philosophical teachings of neo-Confucianism. Confucianism was regarded as a philosophical and religious tradition through the establishment of the five classics or wu jing in 136 BCE. These five classics include the Shujing (history), Yijing (changes), Liji (rites), Chinqui Zouzhuan (spring & autumn periods) (), and Shijing (poetry). During the sixth century, the Indian Buddhism codes were translated entirely in Chinese but in the ways of the Indian traditions. According to Su Shi, Buddhism doctrines did not clash with Confucian principles, and the Chinese Buddhists and monks appreciated the patterns and cultural values that were advocated by Confucian philosophers (A source book in Chinese philosophy). However, philosophers who studied neo-Confucianism vehemently condemned the lifestyle and beliefs of Buddhism, such as Cheng brothers, Cheng Hao, Zhou Dunyi, and later Zhu Xi. Zhu Xi advocated for the studying of early Confucian sages such as Mencius in order for one to be a moral leader in the society. The teachings of Buddhism reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Neo-Confucians, especially Zhu and his students, transmitted the knowledge of social legitimacy and dynastic foundations, which had been ignored since the time of Confucian Mencius. Therefore, it took the form of a political movement that sought to address the socioeconomic challenges of the day. During the reign of the Sung Dynasty (979-1279), there was a great reaction to the foreign religion and the stagnant Confucian tradition. However, philosophic thinkers like Zhu Xi had to reinterpret the ancient Confucianism, which indicates that the thoughts of the ancient Confucians were still relevant in the neo-Confucian era. Zhu realized that they were addressing an ancestral doctrine which dealt with the cultivation of the inner life and human mind. Arguably, the neo-Confucian notions of self-cultivation and transmission resembled the teachings of Chan Buddhism. Therefore, the morphology of neo-Confucianism and its vision resembles the scope of Chan Buddhism. 
Therefore, to make it useful, Zhu Xi did not borrow Buddhist doctrines, but he creatively interpreted the traditional Confucianism to meet the current spiritual and spiritual expectations. The Cheng brothers answered Zen Buddhism's transcendence of the mundane through grounding the concept of mundane. They stated that human interpersonal relations, societal concerns, and the government are inseparable and deepened ascetical practices, which are the path to self-fulfillment and realization. Zhu Xi's teachings were similar to those of Mencius because both thinkers lived during political struggle, intellectual conflicts, and moral chaos. On his thoughts on human nature, Mencius took a big step in his new theory and doctrines. According to Mencius, 'human nature is originally good, and he possesses the innate knowledge of the good and the innate ability to do well.' He also states that 'if a man develops his mind to the utmost level, he can serve heaven and fulfill his destiny.' On the issue of evil, he stated that 'evil is not inborn, but due to humans own failures and inability to avoid the external influences, he is thus considered evil.' Therefore, Mencius insisted that men must make efforts to recover their original nature. 
On the other hand, Zhu Xi emphasized the principle concept of li as the theory and nature of human reality. Furthermore, he elaborated and established the Cheng Yi principle of undifferentiated unity, and th...