華嚴經探玄記 1.11

1.11

四為本故者，謂將欲逐機漸施末教故，宜最初先示本法。明後依此方起末故，是故最初說此經法，然後方於鹿園等處漸說枝末小乘等法。又下〈性起品〉云「猶如日出，先照高山」等，如下立教中引說。

Fourth, "due to serving as the root": this means that wishing to gradually dispense the branch teachings according to capacity, it is fitting to first demonstrate the root Dharma at the very beginning. Clarifying that it is only relying on this that the branches subsequently arise, he therefore expounded this sūtra's teaching at the very beginning, and only thereafter gradually expounded the branch teachings of the Hīnayāna and so forth in the Deer Park and other places. Furthermore, the "Chapter on Nature Manifestation" below states: "Just as when the sun rises, it first illumines the high mountains," and so forth, as cited and explained below under the establishment of the teachings.