The Four Holy Principles is a basic tenet that is followed by all the Buddhist sects, whether it is a southern or northern school, or it is a Chinese or Tibetan faction. They all think it the only way to emancipate the living beings. The subsequent followers thought the Four Principles were only Sravaka's and pratyeka-buddha's teachings, intending to preach down the Four Principles as a Hinayana doctrine. But in fact, the Four-Grand Oaths followed by the Mahayana was developed just on the basis of the Four Principles. The development from the Four Holy Principles to the Four Grand Oaths indicates both the mixture and expansion of Hinayana and Mahayana.
