As someone who came after the Anlu Shan rebellion (755), the secession of Fanchen, and repeated intrusions by foreign powers such as the Tu Fan and the Hui He, Han Yu was not of the opinion that Buddhism-with its transcendental thought-could save the common people.
身處安史亂後，又遭藩鎮割據，土蕃及回紇等外邦屢次侵擾，韓愈並不認為超脫世外的佛教能夠拯救百姓。