Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s6.t10.26

v1.c7.s6.t10.26

In Sui and Tang Dynasties, Buddhism was in its heyday in China and eight Buddhist sects such as Tian Tai Sect, Three-Sutra Sect, Pure Land Sect, Huayan Sect, Dharma-image Sect, Meditation (Chan) Sect, Vinaya Sect and Esoteric Sect emerged in China, most of which were influenced by Indian Buddhist philosophy. Among them the *Three-Sutra Sect* which was rooted in Madhyamaka in Indian Mahayana Buddhism and was typified by *Madhyamakakarika*, *Dvadashamukha Shastra* and *Sata Sastra* by Nagarjuna and Aryadeva, emerged in Sui Dynasty and it espoused Madhyamaka philosophy formulated by Nagarjuna and Aryadeva and preached the emptiness of nature, the twofold truths and eight-negation Middle Way. The *Dharma-image Sect* founded by Xuanzang and his disciple Kui Ji was influenced by Indian Buddhist philosophy as well as typified by *Sajdhinirmocana Sutra*, *Yogacarabhumi Sastra* and *Vijnaptimatra Siddhi Sastra* translated by Xuanzang and his disciple Kui Ji. By embracing the philosophy formulated by Asanga and Vasubandhu, leading members of the Dharma-image Sect of Mahayana Buddhism, it preached the doctrine of Consciousness-Only (vijnapti-matrata-Perception is reality). The Tian Tai Sect that emerged in the Sui Dynasty inherited Nagarjuna's philosophy, the representative of Madhyamaka and considered Nagarjuna as the founder of the Sect. By embracing the emptiness of nature established by its founder Nagarjuna and further development combined with their own practices. The *Tian Tai Sect* developed the doctrine of Three Meditations of One Mind or threefold contemplation in one mind. By interpreting void, unreal and mean existence in tri-satyas advocated by Nagarjuna as three dogmas (truths), to their eyes, all existence in the universe was subject to conditions (unreal truth), all unreal