A great number of both Buddhist and secular texts are extensively quoted in Fa yuan ju lin. Therefore it has been traditionally regarded as a Buddhist encyclopaedia and modern scholars, too, viewed it only as a reference work arranged under subjects which could be consulted to garner quotations of otherwise cost scriptions. However, these evaluations obscured the aim for which Fa yuan ju lin was originally compiled.
In order to reveal the real purpose of this important work，the present paper discusses both Dau-shr's historical background，the fierce competition between Buddhist and the local culture which promoted the compilation of Fa yuan ju lin, and the origin and purpose of a peculiar feature of this book，i.e.，each chapter ends with a section relating miracle stories. The discussion proceeds under the leadings "Dau-shr's spiritural lineage, his friends and works"，"The historical setting of the compilation of Fa yuan ju lin"，and "The structure and arrangement of Fa yuan ju lin".
