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mind by and large is the same everywhere. Since beneath heaven there are not different Taos, the minds of the sages are not different either. From the identity of the mind the identity of the Tao can be recognized. Even though the background of the different cultures is not the same, the results which they achieve have more similarities than differences.
3. The doctrines of the five teachings complement and complete each other. It is necessary to know the truth of all men in the world. For the sages of the five teachings came to the world in different regions. Because of the differences in history, culture, customs, national character and language the sages had to match their method of teaching to the times, the places and the men in each region. As a result it could hardly be avoided that the doctrines of the five teachings would lay different emphases. ... Therefore, each teaching has its strongpoints, and each has its deficiencies. If one wants to see the truth which all men in the world possess [together], there is no other way than to combine the five teachings.
4. According to the trend of development of each of the five teachings they must reunite in the Tao. After the separation of the five teachings they gradually took a course that led back to unity. ... Christianity and Islam were introduced to China relatively late. Then however as there are no differences in the fundamental doctrines of these two teachings and the [other] three teachings — after they came in contact with the three teachings they likewise gradually developed a tendency to merge with them.38
These passages show clearly that the recognition of Christianity and Islam goes deeper than the mere acceptance of foreign gods as equal to the Chinese gods, as was the case in common fu-luan cults. It is granted that the doctrines of the two foreign religions contain the truth of the Tao to the same degree as the three Chinese religions. This must be regarded as a fundamental innovation, taking into account the general rejection and even hostility with which these foreign religions were looked upon during the last century. This is an important point since it shows that modernization, which in China to a large
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mind by and large is the same everywhere. Since beneath heaven there are not different Taos, the minds of the sages are not different either. From the identity of the mind the identity of the Tao can be recognized. Even though the background of the different cultures is not the same, the results which they achieve have more similarities than differ-
ences.
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3. The doctrines of the five teachings complement and complete each other. It is necessary to know the truth of all men in the world. For the sages of the five teachings came to the world in different regions. Because of the differ- ences in history, culture, customs, national character and language the sages had to match their method of teaching to the times, the places and the men in each region. As a result it could hardly be avoided that the doctrines of the five teachings would lay different emphases. ... Therefore, each teaching has its strongpoints, and each has its deficiencies. If one wants to see the truth which all men in the world possess [together], there is no other way than to combine the five teachings.
4. According to the trend of development of each of the five teachings they must reunite in the Tao. After the separation of the five teachings they gradually took a course that led back to unity. First, the three teachings Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism accomplished complete unity. . . . Christianity and Islam were introduced to China relatively late. Then however as there are no differences in the fundamental doctrines of these two teachings and the [other] three teachings — after they came in contact with the three teachings they likewise gradually developed a tendency to merge with them.38
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These passages show clearly that the recognition of Christianity and Islam goes deeper than the mere acceptance of foreign gods as equal to the Chinese gods, as was the case in common fu-luan cults. It is granted that the doctrines of the two foreign religions contain the truth of the Tao to the same degree as the three Chinese religions. This must be regarded as a fundamental innovation, taking into account the general rejection and even hostility with which these foreign religions were looked upon during the last century. This is an important point since it shows that modernization, which in China to a large
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