Volume VI Special Issue II February 2026

Name of Author : Dr. Smitha T. M

Title of the paper : Ecological Wisdom in Ancient Japanese and Chinese Thought: A Study

Abstract: Japanese and Chinese philosophical traditions show a great affinity with nature. For them nature is divine, alive and creative. Japan holds three distinct cultural traditions 1 Buddhist philosophy, ii Confusion philosophy, iii The indigenous Shinto mythology. Among these three traditions Japanese Buddhism and Shintoism give emphasis the very positive and respectful attitude to environment. As early as the 5th century B. C., Chinese philosophy postulated an infinite and benign force in the natural world. Taoist tradition embodies an understanding of nature, which may help human being to reorient himself toward t natural world. This paper tries to make clear the ecological consciousness fostered by ancient Japanese tradition and Chinese tradition through a detailed analysis. Shintoism of Japan culminated a pantheistic world view became the backbone of eco centric attitude towards nature. Long with Shintoism, Japanese Buddhist thinkers like Kukai, Sai cho and Dogen develop their own ecological having eco centric core. The Tendai monastery, Zen school and Shine tradition are the important monasteries follow the life style base on ecological harmony. Taoism, the mystic world vision of China, developed an attitude towards nature is less exploitative and based on Cosmo centric assumptions. The detailed analysis of the above mentioned thoughts and themes exposes the nature of ecological wisdom possesses by Ancient Japanese and Chinese thoughts which emphasis the interconnectedness and reciprocal relation of humanity and nature.

Keywords : Shi zen, garbh, dhama, thousand day pilgrimage, taote, tien.

DOI :

Page Number : 21-27