Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s5.t11.9

v1.c7.s5.t11.9

There was another purpose for Yi Jing’s preface. He wanted to explain the Indian Buddhist disciplines that he introduced in *Account of Buddhism Sent from the South Seas* basically belonged to a sectarian system to endure and spread. “All talked herein are basically based on the study of (Buddhist) sects and things of other sects are not mixed in.” Yi Jing also talked of popularity of Buddhist sects and disciplines at that time, “The distribution levels of the four sects are not quite the same in different kingdoms. In kingdom of Magadha, people learn all the four sects but Root Sect is the most popular. There are three sects in Luotu and Xindu with the Positive Power Sect being the most popular and largest. In the northern kingdoms, there are four sects and Holy Mass is the largest. In southern kingdoms, people revere Honour Seat Sect but other sects also exist. In eastern kingdoms, four sects exist in mixed form. In Lion Island, people revere Honor Seat Sect but repel Holy Mass Sect. In kingdoms in South Sea, the revered one is Root Sect, sometimes Positive Power Sect and now other two sects are aslo included.” “South to Zhanbo is Linyi. In this kingdom, there are more Positive Sect and few Root Sect.” “But in the east part, people practice dharmaraksa. In the centre part, it is all-inclusive. In the very south, Root Sect is very flourishing. But those who recite Ten Songs and Four Division take the scripture as titles.” These are very important materials for studying Buddhism in India, Southeast Asia and China at present.