This thesis seeks to investigate into the thoughts of the treatise “Things Do Not Move,” written by the Chinese Madhyamaka thinker Sengzhao. “Things Do Not Move” is a treatise in the Zhaolun and propounds the thought of the nonduality of motion and rest. For certain reasons, it has been very controversial in Chinese Buddhism. This thesis resorts to the methods of philological studies and philosophical interpretation in order to uncover the implications of the treatise. The thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter, “Introduction”, is divided into four sections. It explains the motives and purposes of this thesis and reviews the contemporary literature on the treatise. The second chapter, “Sengzhao’s Thought Background and His Life and Works,” consists of four sections. It sketches the mainstream thoughts of his time, both inside and outside Buddhism, and also briefly discusses his life and writings. The third chapter, “A Study of the Thought of ‘Things Do Not Move’”, is the core of this thesis and divided into three sections. This chapter closely examines several arguments put forth in the treatise in order to know what Sengzhao really wants to convey by writing this treatise. The fourth chapter, titled “A Study of the Thought of Abiding by Nature,” consists of two sections. Herein, we focus on the controversial notion of ‘abiding by nature’ in the treatise. It has been held that this notion is non-Buddhistic or anti-Madhyamika. This chapter examines the traditional criticisms of the notion. The fifth chapter, “Conclusion,” presents the conclusion of this thesis.
