The “Disposition of Error” (Doc3) and the “Zang Mi” essay (Doc5) illustrate attempts to allow the two religions to coexist. The “Disposition of Error,” written by an anonymous upper-class scholar, addresses some points of conflict between Buddhism and Confucianism, but Zang Mi places the two religions on the same level. While Document 3 was written near the end of a period of political disunity in China, Document 5 was produced during the early Tang dynasty. Both documents show the Chinese desire to incorporate Buddhist beliefs without threatening the teachings of Confucius. However, Document 3 was written by an upper-class scholar, meaning that the uncertainties expressed about the compatibility of Confucianism and Buddhism may not have applied to the lower classes; Document 5 was written during the Tang dynasty, which derived its legitimacy in part from these Buddhist beliefs. So the persuasive goal may not really be about representing what China as a whole believes, but rather what the government wants it to argue.