..續本文上一頁d looked on the activity of saving animals as the asistance of Pure Land.

　　 The fourth chapter mainly elaborates the relations of Master Lian-chi and layman,s Buddhhism.The first section is devoted to the discussion of the achievement of laymen in groups who accepted the direction of Master Lian-chi.The second section pays more attention to expounded the contents of the direction.In a word,Master Lian-chi particularly emphasied the importance of the belief and understanding of punitive justice,the introspection of morality,the practice of Pure Land.Because these principles suited the circumstances of the day,under the direction of Master Lian-chi,layman,s Buddhism made great progress in the late stage of Ming dynasty.

　　 The fifth chapter narrates the viewpoint of Master Lian-chi about the relation of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism.The first section recalls the relation of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism in the history,and also pays attention to the circumstance of the day.The cultural merging of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism initiated from in the last years of Tang Dynasty and the initial stage of Song Dynasty.The mother current mainly manifested in the cultural merging between Confucianism and Buddhism,and that between Buddhism and Taoism.

　　 The second section lays stress on discussing Lian-chi,s attitude to the cultural merging.Although Master Lian-chi admitted the possibility of the cultural merging,he thought the three were not identical.In his opinion,Buddhism transcended the worldly,but Confucianism and Taoism didn,t.

　　 The third section relates his attitude to the cultural merging between Confucianism and Buddhism. On the whole,Master Lian-chi advocated the two assist each other.On the one hand,he demonstrated the theoretic harmony between Confucianism and Buddhism,and supported the merging.At the same time,he also opposed the theoretic confusion.

　　 The fourth section explains the opinion of the cultural merging between Buddhism and Taoism.To the thought of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu,Master Lian-chi expressed a mild attitude.But to the elixir making,he gave severe criticism,because its theory could make people misunderstand Buddhist doctrines.To eliminate the harm of theoretic confusion,Master Lian-chi exhaustively narrated the difference of the theory,method and destination between Buddhism and Taoim.

　　 The fifth section analyzes the content of The Record of Moral Introspection compiled by Master Lian-chi.According to the principle of punitive justice,the book advocated the theory of Confucianist morality by means of Criterions for Personal Record;therefore it particularly reflected Master Lian-chi,s attitude to Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism.

　　 The sixth chapter narrates Lian-chi,s attitude to Catholicism and Luo,s Sect.In the late stage of Ming dynasty,Catholicism formulated the policy of assisting Confucianism and replacing Buddhism.According to the guiding principle,Catholicism violently attacked Buddhist doctrines.Facing the situation,Master Lian-chi also attacked Catholic belief of God,Heaven and Hell etc.At the same time,Master Lian-chi also ctiticized the doctrines of Luo,s Sect.He strictly differentiate Buddhism and Luo,s Sect,and disclosed its essence of esoteric religion.

　　 The conclusion points out the characteristic and influence of Lian-chi,s thoughts.The first section explains that Garland Sutra was the theoretic basis of Master Lian-chi,and Pure Land was his destination.Certainly,the thoughts of Lian-chi not only accelerated Buddhist reformation and revival in the late stage of Ming dynasty,but also offered the guiding principles to modern Buddhism,especially influenced the development of modern Pure Land and modern layman,s Buddhism.

　　Key Words：Master Lian-chi Buddhism in the late stage of Ming dyna…

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