Sixiao’s 思孝 Pinaiyezang jinshi youposai wujieben 毘奈耶蔵近事優婆塞五戒本 and His Views on the Moral Precepts of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism

Abstract

In the wooden pagoda of Ying County 応県, Shanxi, China, a document titled Pinaiyezang jinshi youposai wujieben 毘奈耶蔵近事優婆塞五戒本 was discovered, authored by Sixiao 思孝, a renowned figure of Khitan Buddhism. In the preface of this document, Sixiao compares the five fundamental precepts of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Although he considers the three religions to coexist on an equal basis, he argues that Buddhism has the characteristic of being “supramundane.” Compared with Confucianism and Taoism, which are considered teachings of this world, Buddhism possesses its own superiority.