Tiantai

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Tiantai (天台) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Sui dynasty. It is named after the Tiantai Mountain in Zhejiang province, where the school's founder, Zhiyi, lived and taught. The Tiantai school is known for its comprehensive and systematic approach to Buddhist doctrine and practice, integrating various teachings and texts into a cohesive framework.

History

The Tiantai school was founded by Zhiyi (538–597 CE), who is considered one of the most influential figures in Chinese Buddhism. Zhiyi's teachings were based on the Lotus Sutra, which he regarded as the ultimate expression of the Buddha's teachings. He developed a detailed system of meditation and doctrinal classification, which became the foundation of the Tiantai tradition.

During the Tang dynasty, the Tiantai school flourished and spread to other parts of China. It also influenced the development of Korean Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism, particularly the Tendai school in Japan, which was founded by Saichō.

Teachings

The Tiantai school is known for its doctrinal classification system, which categorizes the Buddha's teachings into five periods and eight teachings. This system is designed to show the progression and development of the Buddha's teachings, culminating in the Lotus Sutra.

Threefold Truth

One of the central teachings of Tiantai is the concept of the Threefold Truth, which consists of:

• The truth of emptiness (空)
• The truth of conventional existence (假)
• The truth of the middle way (中)

These three truths are seen as interdependent and mutually inclusive, reflecting the ultimate reality of all phenomena.

Fourfold Teachings

The Tiantai school also emphasizes the Fourfold Teachings, which are:

• The Tripitaka teaching (三藏教)
• The shared teaching (通教)
• The distinct teaching (別教)
• The perfect teaching (圓教)

These teachings represent different levels of understanding and practice, with the perfect teaching being the highest and most comprehensive.

Practice

Tiantai practice is characterized by a combination of meditation, ethical conduct, and doctrinal study. The school developed a unique form of meditation known as zhiguan (止觀), which means "calming and insight." This practice involves both concentration and analytical meditation, aimed at realizing the true nature of reality.

Influence

The Tiantai school has had a significant impact on the development of East Asian Buddhism. Its teachings and practices have influenced various Buddhist traditions, including Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism. The school's emphasis on the Lotus Sutra has also contributed to the popularity of this text in East Asian Buddhist cultures.

Related Pages

• Zhiyi
• Lotus Sutra
• Tendai
• Mahayana Buddhism
• Sui dynasty
• Tang dynasty
• Korean Buddhism
• Japanese Buddhism
• Saichō
• Threefold Truth
• Fourfold Teachings
• Zhiguan