大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 15.9

15.9

疏「第三明支類」等者，支即支流。支者分也，亦如樹枝，從一樹身分出枝分。本即《華嚴》故。此中言流，如從一池流出諸派。大部如池，別行如派故。類即流類。此中言流，取相似流類之義。謂餘別行經，不從大部分出，義勢相似，即今經流類故。

Regarding the commentary's phrase “Third, explaining the branches and types,” and so forth: “branch” (zhī) means branch stream. A branch is a part, also like the branches of a tree, dividing out from a single tree-trunk as parts of branches. This is because the root is the Avataṃsaka. The word “stream” (liú) used here is like various tributaries flowing out from a single pool. The grand corpus is like the pool, and the independently circulating texts are like the tributaries. “Types” (lèi) means flow-types. The word “flow” used here takes the sense of a similar, kindred category. This means that other independently circulating sūtras, which do not branch off from the main text but whose doctrinal thrust is similar, are thus kindred types to the present sūtra.