Tiantai Wise Research (Discussing the Rise of Esoteric Buddhism)

Author: Li Silong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features:
Zhiyi (538-598) is known as the Master of Wisdom and the Tiantai Master. He is the actual founder of the Tiantai School and the synthesizer of Buddhism during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. He laid the foundation for the basic character of Buddhism in the Sui and Tang dynasties. He is often summarized by the phrases "the perfect unity of the three truths" and "three thousand realms in a single thought," which systematically interpret his theory of reality and liberation, thereby comprehensively explaining the full scope of his thoughts. His theories later became the doctrinal basis for the establishment and succession of the Tiantai School.
By analyzing the problem consciousness and the circumstances of monks during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, this book places Zhiyi back into the social and historical context of his time. On one hand, he engaged in intellectual debates with other schools such as the Sanlun, Dilian, and She Lun, integrating different Buddhist traditions and using Madhyamaka to digest and transcend the Yogacara Buddhism that had been introduced during his era. On the other hand, he adapted to the unified political landscape, improved monastic rules and discipline, created confession rituals, and enhanced the social survival ability of "the monastery-monastic community." These two aspects constitute the theoretical roots and historical driving forces behind the rise of sect-based Buddhism in the Sui and Tang dynasties.