大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 15.9

15.9

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.