Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies 불교학연구 ISSN:1598-0642(Print)

We can understand the system and the philosophical features of the four siddhāta(四悉檀) explained by Tiantai(天台) in the propound meaning on the Lotus sutra–śātra as below. First, Tiantai explains the four siddhāta using the notion of sibjoong(十重). This means that Tiantai understood and explained the four siddhāta as the Buddha’s teaching method, which is different from the notion of four siddhāta in the Mahārajñdāāamitārśātra . Second, the key–oint of the four siddhāta understood by Tiantai is the relationship between the Buddha and human beings. So, he emphasizes the differences of human beings like their fundamental abilities, personality, and wants, and he understood the four siddhāta as the method to embody compassion in the relation of the divine respons. Third, Tiantai holds the complete combination(圓融) and the need of the unity between the learning of Buddhist doctrines and the meditation practice(敎觀兼修) using the idea of the four siddhāta . This shows that Tiantai holds the unity between the learning tradition in the south part of China and the zen tradition in the north part of China at that time. Fourth, Tiantai applies the logic of hoguhoyung (互具互融) and the four terms of differentiation(四句分別), when he analyzes the notion of the four siddhāta . However, his logic system of the four terms of differentiation shows the different features of the dialectical logic of the Sanlun logicians in Tiantai’s former times on the point that the notion of the four terms of differentiation by Tiantai is very independent and subjective.