Correlation Between Saicho's Term “Enki” (One's Potentiality Ripe for Receiving the Perfect Teaching) and his Understanding of Tendai Teachings

Abstract

Not a few researchers have already discussed Saicho's use of the term “enki”, especially in interpretations of “enkiijuku”. But it seems to us that they are only rhetorical wordings, when we compare the famous passage “enkiijuku, engyotsuiko” (_??__??__??__??_, _??__??__??__??_) which began this argument with the wordings and points of Zengi's gratitude for the lecture on Tendai Teaching by Saicho. I alter the point in question to study some of Zhiyi's or Zhanran's illustrations of the term “yuanji/enki” and contrast their interpretations to Saicho's. In conclusion, though Saicho's uses of “enki” are based on Tendai Buddhism, they also contain his original point of view.