Abstract
Zhanran is well known for his emphasison on the idea that “non-sentient existence has buddha-dhatu”. In this paper, I study this idea.
Based on previous appsoaches of scholars, there appear to be two basic methods possible, either to look for the roots of Zhanran's idea in Chinese thought, or in Buddhist thought. I follow the second course, because I believe the formation of Zhanran's thinking lies within Tiantai doctrine. Specifically, it is necessarily drawn directly from the Tiantai doctrine of “Zhiguan fuxing.” Moreover, the idea that “non-sentient existence has buddhadhatu” emphasized in the Jingang bei can be also regarded its development.
