Inner Motives Behind Exiled Literati’s Turn Toward the Three Teachings in the Mid-to-Late Tang Dynasty

Abstract

The disintegration of political order and the intensification of factional strife in the mid-to-late Tang dynasty led to the widespread exile of Confucian scholar-officials, placing them in a state of frustration and spiritual crisis. This study investigates the psychological and ideological process underlying exiled scholars' gradual turn from Confucianism toward Daoist and Buddhist thought. Through an analysis of their poetry, the study explores how Confucian anguish, an awareness of adversity and moral responsibility, and psychological dependence on official service shaped their spiritual predicament, and how Daoist and Buddhist ideas served as means of inner adjustment. The findings indicate that Daoist transcendence and Buddhist enlightenment offered emotional solace and spiritual liberation, while the literati's spiritual orientation remained fundamentally rooted in Confucian ideals of moral responsibility and social engagement. This shift reflects a process of self-reconstruction and spiritual renewal in response to political disillusionment and personal setbacks. Moving beyond earlier interpretations focused solely on religious practice or reclusion, the study highlights how political pressures and spiritual crises jointly reshaped the intellectual outlook of Tang literati, providing new insights into the reconciliation of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism.