The Three Religious Unity Theory

Japanese: 三教一致論 - さんきょういっちろん

The three religions are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in China, and Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shinto in Japan. It asserts that these three religions are not absolutely contradictory and can coexist. Notable characteristics of the three religions are Confucianism's theory of cultivating oneself and governing one's person, Buddhism's theory of finding peace of mind in life, Taoism's theory of eternal youth and eternal life, and Shinto's theory of worldly benefits. The theory of cultivating oneself and governing one's person is a sign of the orthodox/heretical debate in China. The theory of unity is an attempt by the three religions to build a united front to achieve this great goal, and the first type of this theory places Confucianism, which most harmoniously advocated the theory of cultivating oneself and governing one's person, in the center, and places Taoism and Buddhism on either side to reinforce the shortcomings and deficiencies of Confucianism.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

三教とは中国では儒教･仏教･道教，日本では儒教･仏教･神道をいう。これら三教が絶対的に矛盾対立せず，併存可能であることの主張。儒教の修己･治人論，仏教の安心立命論，道教の不老長生，神道の現世利益論などが三教の著しい特徴である。中国の正統･異端論争の徴表は修己･治人論である。この大目的の成就をめぐって三教が共同戦線を構築せんとしたのが一致論であるが，その第1型は，修己･治人論を最も調和的に主張した儒教を中心的位置におき，道･仏の2教を左右に配して儒教の不備欠陥を補強させようとする。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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