法華義疏 9.7

9.7

The five hundred refers to the number of one thousand two hundred. The reason it is specifically so titled involves four meanings in total: First, when the Buddha was in the world, there were five hundred arhats of prominent fame and manifest majesty and virtue who constantly attended upon the Buddha; hence it is specifically titled after them. Second, these five hundred persons had the same vows and practices, receiving prophecies together at the same time in the present and achieving buddhahood successively in the future. Third, these five hundred persons all equally possessed the merit of being able on their own to comprehend, understand, and explain the jewel tied [in the garment]; hence they are specifically singled out. Fourth, when the Buddha first attained the Way, he first liberated the five men, and next liberated Kāśyapa and his disciples, which amounted to five hundred; here the name is established based on the beginning, and therefore they are specifically singled out.