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，就是中国儒家、佛教与道教思想，保留各自特点，相互会通、合流的现象，形成了以儒家为主，佛教与道教为辅的基本格局，融合发展成为中华文化的主流，对中国思想史、文化史产生持久且深刻的影响。
佛教自从传入中国后，就一直与儒家、道教互相借鉴与融合。魏晋南北朝时期是三教融合的第一次高潮，佛教思想吸收儒家忠孝的伦理，逐渐本土化、中国化；而道教吸收儒家伦理、道家哲学与民间信仰，借鉴佛教的僧团寺庙组织与仪式，其理论、组织架构、仪式等逐渐成熟。隋唐时期，三者进一步融合。佛教主动吸收儒家的中庸思想与道家的自然思想，最终形成具有中国特色的佛教宗派禅宗、净土宗与律宗。北宋时期，三教融合又一次达到高潮，儒家吸收佛学、道家思想，形成“理学”，道教吸收儒家、佛教思想，其修养理论与方法更加内化。元明清时期，三教融合进一步发展。明代哲学家王阳明以儒家为主，融合佛教、道教思想， 提出“心学”。同时，道教、佛教在晚明时期表现出世俗化、入世化的趋势。
“三教合一”反映了中国本土文化与外来文化之间的“交融性”，深刻体现了中华民族包容、和平、开放的精神气质与文明品格，这也是中华文明历久弥新的重要原因。
