Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s6.t2.6

v1.c7.s6.t2.6

**Madhyamika:** one of the five important classics of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the four Buddhist sectarian doctrines. It occupies an important position in the entire history of Buddhist thought. It absorbed the thoughts of Agama and Prajna; then it created Madhyamika of Tibetan Buddhism that is greatly valued and vigorously carried forward. So Madhyamika flourished and was developed in Buddhism, and even the thoughts of Madhyamika became the main theoretical basis of Tibetan Buddhism, based on which their own views of Buddhism are established, for example, “the five important classics” took Madhyamika and Hetuvidya as two important theories to establish the Buddhist views of point. Hetuvidya is thought the eye for the study of Prajna so it is learned first. People study Madhyamika later because they think Madhyamika is result of the study of Prajna. That shows that the purpose of studying Madhyamika is darsana-marga and to get the kosher thoughts of Madhyamika. Tibetan Buddhism placed Madhyamika on an important position in the entire Buddhist system. Especially during the period of Houhong of Tibetan Buddhism, Chandrakirti's main works about Madhyamika were translated into Tibetan Language, and thus all thoughts of Madhyamika have been preserved in Tibetan Tripitaka and the authoritative status of Chandrakirti has been established in Tibetan Buddhism.