Abstract:

The gradual replacement of the traditional historical view by the view of “evolutionary history” is one of the most fundamental and important ideological changes in the modern transformation of Chinese thought, which has profoundly affected the self-cognition and social practice of Chinese people. Having an insight into the profound implications of this transition, Master Tai-xu made a critical reflection on the view of “evolutionary history” and constructed the view of “causal history”. This is the first clear and systematic Buddhist view of history in China’s intellectual history. It contains a profound understanding of life, time, history, and their interrelationships. From the perspective of modernity, this paper elucidates the rich meaning of this theory, and reveals its great theoretical and practical significance.

Key words: view of history, view of evolutionary history, view of causal history, Tai-xu, modernity