Final answer:
The ideas of ren and li are not originally Buddhist principles; they are foundational concepts of Confucian philosophy from its inception. Confucius developed these ideas, which were integral to his philosophical system, long before Buddhism influenced Chinese thought. Therefore, the given statement is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false. Although ren and li are central concepts in Confucianism, they were not originally Buddhist principles but rather integral elements of Confucian thought from its beginning. Confucius (Kong Fuzi), who lived around 551 BCE, developed a philosophical system that made prominent the values of filial piety, moral integrity, and social harmony. In Confucian philosophy, ren refers to humaneness or benevolence, which is the virtue of compassion and care for others, and it is considered one of the highest virtues to be cultivated. Li, on the other hand, encompasses rituals, customs, and norms, guiding proper behavior and social order. The cultivation of these virtues is essential for achieving harmony in both personal development and social relations, fulfilling the ideal of becoming a junzi, or noble person. Historically, Mencius, a later disciple of Confucianism, expanded on these concepts to assert that people possess an innate propensity toward good virtues such as ren. During the Han dynasty, Confucianism gained notable influence, becoming interwoven with state ideology, though it wasn't without its internal contradictions or challenges from other philosophies like Daoism and Mohism.
In contrast to Confucianism, Buddhism arrived in China after Confucius's time via the Silk Road, coming from India. Over time, Buddhism interacted with local philosophies, resulting in syncretic schools of thought such as Neo-Confucianism, which emerged centuries later and addressed elements of Buddhist and Daoist thought. It is true that Confucianism later engaged with Buddhist ideas during the Neo-Confucianism period, but the original concepts of ren and li were part of Confucian teachings well before Buddhist influence in China.