Chikō (智光, 708–776?) of the Gango-ji (元興寺) is known as the greatest monk of the Sanron (三論) sect during the Nara period. Attention has been paid to his criticism of the Hossō (法相) sect’s three period teaching classification (三時教判) in the context of the debate regarding emptiness and existence (空有諍論).
In this study, I show that Chikō’s Jōmyō genron ryakujutsu (浄名玄論略述) quotes the early Tang Chinese monk Fabao’s (法宝) Yisheng foxing jiujinglun (一乗仏性究竟論), which is famous for criticizing the three vehicle theory.
In addition, I point out that Chikō’s Jōmyō genron ryakujutsu criticizes the Hossō distinction of the five natures (五性各別) in the context of controversy between the Three Vehicles and One Vehicle theories.
From this, I conclude that Chikō’s Jōmyō genron ryakujutsu was written from the standpoint of criticizing the Three Vehicles theory.
