The Tendency of Tendai Doctrinal Debates in the Saishō-kō 最勝講, Lecture on the Sūtra of Golden Light

Abstract

From the description of the Saishō-kō mondōki 最勝講問答記, we learn that there are two types of debates in the Saishō-kō, the Lecture on the Sūtra of Golden Light, namely the Ronzō rongi 論蔵論義 and Shaku rongi 尺論義. In these debates, a monk of the Tendai sect served as lecturer, The former consists mainly of arguments about the Abhidharma, while the latter is largely based on the writings of Zhiyi 智顗, Guanding 灌頂, Zhanran 湛然 and other Chinese Tiantai masters. As a result, there were many academic discussions that promoted a more accurate understanding of the sect’s doctrines, which was the basis of the debates in the Saishō-kō.