ABSTRACT
The Northern Sung witnessed a mounting interest in the exegesis of Confucian classics. The Chung-yung was a highly prized text, appealing to students of the three teachings, and was also among two or three Confucian texts venerated by Buddhists and Taoists. In Ch'i-sung's view, Han was so conceited that he did not see the interconnection between the Chung-yung and Buddhist scriptures when he spumed Buddhism. It becomes clear why Ch'i-sung, and perhaps other contemporary Sung Buddhists as well, wanted to promote the Chung-yung and the Mean. It is because he saw this text and its philosophy conform to what is taught by Buddhism. In Buddhist scriptures, however, the sage is concerned with the perfect ultimate of life and destiny. From the Buddhist point of view, the emotions are sources of affliction; and bad deeds lead to bad karma.
