불교와 유교의 죽음관에 대한 고찰

Abstract

This article is a study for Buddhist and Confucian thoughts of death that are representative of the Eastern philosophy and religion. In the past, death was natural and familiar but in the present, death has become unnatural, unfamiliar and artificial. This is due to a very high suicide rate and low quality of life. To put a brake on regressive death culture, we should look back on and learn traditional thought. To solve problems related to death, such as suicide, paradoxically, we must open our thought of death and expand discussion surrounding death. By doing so, the moments of lives will be awakened. This article adds one such discussion about death. First, I explore Buddhist and Confucian definitions of death. Buddhist definitions of death include separation of āyus(壽, lifespan), uṡṇa(暖, temperature), vijñāna(識, consciousness) and disassembly of pañca-skandhaka(五蘊, five aggregates). In Confucian thought, the definition of death is separation of hún-pò(魂魄, soul and sprit), based on jù-sàn(聚散, gathering and scattering) of qì(氣, energy). Subsequently, I discuss the background of definitions in the Buddhist perspective that life and death are boned by dvādaśaṅga-pratītyasamutpādaḥ(十二緣起, twelve links of dependent arising) while Confucianism lays emphasis on life rather than death, with death as a kind of tool for perfecting life. Furthermore, in the perspective of circulation, Confucianism has a circular perspective of death based on the scattering of qì(氣). Lastly, in Buddhism, the importantance of overcoming death is not death but life and death(生死) on the view of no-birth(不生). In Confucianism, I discuss the relation of lǐ(禮, rite), practice of xiào(孝, filial piety) and jìlǐ(祭禮, ancestral rite) can give us a clue into overcoming death.