The classification of the teachings into three periods by the Faxiang school has its textual basis in the Samdhinirmocanasutra, and the most important commentary of that sutra is the jie shenmi jing shu by Wonch'uk who is regarded as not having been officially authorized by the mainstream of the Faxiang school. Regarding Wonch'uk's views on doctrinal classification (Ch. panjiao), it has been generally agreed that he did not adhere to the standard position of the Yogacara, instead merging the second period teaching (the doctrine of sunyata), and the third period teaching. However, a closer look at his commentary leads to the conclusion that he describes the second period teaching as containing the substance of the paratantrasvabhava and the parinispannasvabhava as the Yogacara doctrine, and he is conscious of following Dharmapala's and Xuanzang's thought.
